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The aim of this paper is to analyze the epidemiologic, clinical, and immunologic characteristics of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), primary or secondary, in autoimmune patients from Northern Greece. Sixty-seven patients with APS were included (9 men, 13.4%, and 58 women, 86.6%). Fifty-two (77.6%) patients had secondary APS and 15 had primary APS (22.4%). The mean age was 46.0 ± 15.4 years and the mean follow-up period was 62.7 ± 15.0 months. Medical records were retrospectively analyzed from January 1994 until December 2001, according to a preestablished protocol. Eight patients (11.9%) had arterial thrombosis, 12 (17.9%) had vein thrombosis, 12 (17.9%) had thrombocytopenia, 20 (29.8%) had neurologic disorders, and 51.6% of the women in reproductive age had, at least 2 fetal losses (higher frequency in primary APS). Thirty-six patients (53.7%) had increased levels of both immunoglobulin G (Ige) and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA), 19 (28.4%) had IgG ACA only, and 12 (17.7%) had IgM ACA only. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were detected in 46 (68.6%) patients, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in 29 (43.3%). All patients were prophylactically treated with aspirin (50–100 mg/day) and low-molecular-weight heparin and/or intravenous immunoglobulins-IVIGs occasionally (pregnant women). The findings of this study are, generally, similar to those described by others. Miscarriages seem to be more frequent in women with primary APS (p<0.05), compared to other studies. Differences between these findings and those described by others concerning epidemiologic, clinical, or immunologic data are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared pulse wave velocity (PWV) between hypertensive patients and control patients to identify demographics and patient characteristics related to PWV.We retrospectively analyzed 9923 participants (3105 controls and 6818 hypertensive patients) from 5 outpatient hypertensive clinics (in Serbia and Greece). Pulse wave velocity had different distribution between controls and hypertensive patients (P < .001). The magnitude of PWVincrease was related to blood pressure (BP) category (from optimal to stage III hypertension; P < .001). Even in hypertensive patients with systolic BP (SBP) <140 and/or diastolic BP (DBP) <90mmHg,PWV was greater than in control patients (P < .001). Pulse wave velocity was associated with almost all baseline characteristics of hypertensive patients (body mass index [BMI], gender, age, SBP, DBP, smoking status, and heart rate; P < .001). This association remained after adjustment of PWV confounders. There were 2231 (32.7%) hypertensive patients who had reached SBP <140 mm Hg and DBP <90 mm Hg. Pulse wave velocity was increased in hypertensive patients, and the degree of PWV increase was associated with baseline BP as well as with anthropometric parameters (eg, BMI, gender, age, heart rate, and smoking status). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]