Topical Workshop 4: A Reappraisal
of CCBs n CV Disease

Cardiovascular protection by CCBs in hypertension. An overview of recent history

Long-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are safe and effective agents for reducing blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular (CV) outcomes, stated Prof. Giuseppe Mancia of Milan, Italy, based on evidence accumulated over the past decade.

PDE-5 inhibitor sildenafil improves exercise-induced vasodilation
in hypertensives

June 15, 2006 — The exercise-induced vasodilation characteristic of hypertension was improved with sildenafil, a PDE-5 inhibitor, compared to the control vasodilator verapamil and placebo. This small study conducted in Italy was presented by Dr. T.M. Attina from Catania, Italy in the Clinical Trials session at the 16th European Meeting on Hypertension in Madrid, Spain.

Teaching Seminar 2: New Data from the ASCOT Trial

A lecture on the mechanisms of interaction between antihypertensive agents and statins by Dr. J. Egido from Madrid, Spain, provided the foundation for a presentation of results from an extended analysis of the ASCOT-LLA study.

Future hypertension treatment
will include targeted,
and earlier, treatment

June 15, 2006 — Systems biology will provide the knowledge needed for treating pre-symptomatic disease with targeted methodologies.

Global CV risk management a priority, ESH guideline revision considered

June 15, 2006 — The European Society of Hypertension has proposed revising its current hypertension management guidelines to include the concept of global cardiovascular risk and their prevention and treatment, particularly for higher risk patients.

Endothelial dysfunction a “harbinger” of CVD in hypertensive diabetic patients

June 15, 2006 — Alterations in mechanisms that cause a faster progression to atherosclerotic disease links hypertension and diabetes to cardiovascular (CV) disease, affecting the heart, kidneys, brain, and eyes.

Professor A.M. Heagerty gave a brief review of some of these mechanisms in a plenary session on hypertension, diabetes and the heart at the 16th European Meeting on Hypertension held in Madrid, Spain.

“Bring the message home” from ESH: Treat global risk, treat aggressively

June 15, 2006 — Physicians must return to their daily practice and treat their patients early and aggressively, and assess the total global risk of their patients to determine and guide treatment for each patient.

Role of nurses in control of high blood pressure highlighted in ESH Session

June 15, 2006 — Nurses play a key role in the multidisciplinary health care team to prevent, treat, and control high blood pressure.