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Background: International guidelines recommend to modulate the periodicity of hypertension screening according to the initial level of blood pressure (BP). The aim of our study was to evaluate other factors that could be useful to optimise the screening for hypertension., Methods: 9777 normotensive volunteers (4151 men, 5626 women) aged 16 to 68, studied at a 10 year interval during systematic health check ups (standardised questionnaire, clinical examination, biological tests) were included. We determined the 10-year incidence of high BP (systolic BP >or=140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP >or=90 mmHg and/or anti-hypertensive treatment). The role of potential risk factors for hypertension was assessed., Results: The 10 year incidence of high BP was 19.9%. It was associated with the initial level of BP (OR=2.02 and 1.81 per +10 mmHg of systolic and diastolic BP, respectively, p<0.0001). Initial age and BMI were strongly associated with the incidence of a high BP (OR=1.88 / + 10 years and 1.18 / + 1 kg/m2, p<0.0001) after adjustment for the initial systolic BP. In men, a low reported physical activity level, alcohol consumption, and current smoking were independent risk factors (Table1). [table: see text], Conclusion: These results suggest that the recommendations for the screening of hypertension should not be based solely on the initial level of BP.

Self blood pressure measurements (home BP) and/or ambulatory BP measurements are recommended in mild to moderate hypertension (140/90 - 179/109 mmHg) in order to confirm sustained hypertension and identify white coat and masked hypertension. The evaluation of target organ damages (TOD) has to be integrated in cardiovascular risk estimate and taken into account in the management of hypertensive patients. Beside echocardiography, there is a place for the screening of microalbuminuria in non diabetic hypertensive patients, but these investigations should not be performed systematically. Arterial stiffness evaluation and carotid intima-media thickness quantification are not yet recommended. Cardiovascular risk (CV risk) estimate plays a pivotal role in the therapeutic decision and strategy. The cardiovascular risk grade is based on [1] the list of cardiovascular risk factors (same list AFSSAPS recommendations on dyslipidemia), [2] the presence or absence of TOD and [3] cardiovascular complications: "low", "medium", and "high" CV risk. Lifestyle modifications are recommended in all hypertensive patients. Five antihypertensive drugs are recommended for first line therapy: beta-blockers, thiazide diuretics, ACEIs, ARA II and CCBs (and fixed low dose combinations with AFSSAPS agreement for first line). In order to initiate the treatment, Evidence-based therapy (according to clinical trials conducted in different clinical situations), certain comorbid conditions (compelling indications), efficacy and side-effects in a previous experience, and the cost are the determinants of the first choice. Most hypertensive patients require more than one agent to achieve target blood pressure and for second line therapy the recommended combinations are: betablockers-diuretics, ACEIs-diuretics, ARAII-diuretics, betablockers-CCBs (DHP), ACEIs-CCBs, ARA II-CCBs and CCBs-diuretics. The delay to establish a combination therapy depend on CV risk. The BP goals are those recommended by ESH-ESC 2003: BP<140/90 mmHg in all, BP<130/80 mmHg in diabetic patients and in patients with chronic renal failure. Beside lowering BP, the reduction in proteinuria <500 mg/24 h is a new goal in these high risk patients. These guidelines provide a tool for every day practice and applicability should be evaluated.

Obesity and insulin resistance are directly associated with the presence of microalbuminuria. However, the prospective relationship between abdominal adiposity and the occurrence of micro-albuminuria has been little studied in a non-diabetic population. From the DESIR cohort, we examined whether waist circumference was associated with the incidence of micro-albuminuria at 6 years (D6). The study evaluated 2738 non-diabetic subjects without micro-albuminuria at inclusion who were then followed prospectively. At 6 years, 254 individuals (9.3%) had developed pathological micro-albuminuria (> or =20 mg/l) measured at micturation. In both sexes, the incidence of micro-albuminuria was associated with increased waist circumference and blood pressure, but not with blood glucose levels, lipid parameters or body mass index. Subjects with a higher waist circumference at inclusion were at a higher risk of having micro-albuminuria at 6 years compared to those with a normal waist circumference. Logical regression analysis showed that waist circumference as a continuous value, or greater than 94 cm for males and 88 cm for females, were predictive factors for the incidence of micro-albuminuria, after adjustment for age, hypertension, ACE inhibitor usage, fibrinogen, and blood glucose level. Abdominal adiposity is thus linked in both sexes to the development of microalbuminuria, which underlines the importance of measuring waist circumference when assessing risk factors for renal lesions in non-diabetic hypertensives.

Unlabelled: Microalbuminuria (Malb: albuminuria: 30-299 mg/24 h) is associated with many cardiovascular parameters (high systolic (SAP) and diastolic (DAP) arterial pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose and body weight, low HDL-cholesterol) and may be a marker of cardiovascular and renal risk in the general population. Whether MAlb could be an integrated marker of cardiovascular and renal risk in transplant recipients is unknown., Patients and Methods: 75 hypertensive non-proteinuric renal transplant recipients were selected. Antihypertensive medications were stopped for a month prior to the studies. MAlb (on a 24-hour urine collection), cyclosporine trough levels (CsA-L), fasting glucose and lipids were measured. SAP and DAP were determined with a semi-automatic device., Results: 29 patients (12 W/17M) had normal levels of albuminuria (Nalb: albuminuria < 30 mg/24 h) and 46 had MAlb. As compared to Nalb patients, those with Malb were younger (M +/- SD: 44.3 +/- 13 vs 51.2 +/- 9.7 respectively, p = 0.009), had higher SAP (152 +/- 16 vs 146 +/- 15 mmHg, p = 0.09) et DAP (86 +/- 11 vs 81 +/- 10 mmHg, p = 0.01). No difference in smoking habits, serum creatinine (125 +/- 27 vs 119 +/- 28 mumol/L), total-, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, CsA-L (142 +/- 29 vs 144 +/- 26 ng/mL), 24 h-urine urea excretion was observed. History of acute rejection episodes (45.7% vs 17.2%, p = 0.01) was more frequent and 24-hour natriuresis (192 +/- 70 vs 152 +/- 79 mmol/24 h, p < 0.01) was higher in Malb than in Nalb., Conclusion: The determinants of microalbuminuria in renal transplant recipients are different from those found in the general population. History of acute rejection episodes was more frequent in renal transplant recipients with Malb than in those with NAlb despite similar renal function, suggesting that Malb may a marker of subclinical renal lesions due to immunological aggression. The relationship between natriuresis and Malb suggests that sodium intake modulates target-organ damage associated with hypertension.

Former smokers exhibit decreased cardiovascular risk as compared to smokers who continue to smoke. However, smoking discontinuation results in weight gain which may be important and influence arterial pressure. From January 1st to June 30th, 1998, 12,417 volunteers (aged 20 to 69) were examined at the "Institut régional pour la santé" (IRSA, Regional Institute for Health), a group of 9 social medical centres in Western and Central France. The subjects were screened for a routine medical and biological check-up provided by their medical insurance. All of the subjects were interviewed by a trained nurse who completed a standardised questionnaire regarding personal medical history, current treatments and lifestyle behaviours (especially alcohol and smoking habits). A physician recorded clinical parameters including age, weight, height, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Non smokers and former smokers represented 40.0% and 23.8% of the population respectively. The prevalence of a BMI 27.0 kg/m2 or greater was higher in former smokers than non smokers and current smokers. Systolic and diastolic arterial pressure in former smokers exceeded those of current smokers and non smokers by 4.2/1.1 mmHg and 2.8/1.6 mmHg respectively. Using logistic regression analysis, the relative risk of hypertension in former smokers was 1.24 (CI 95%: 1.10-1.39, p < 0.001) and 1.13 (0.995-1.29, p = 0.055) as compared to non smokers and current smokers, after adjustment for age and alcohol intake. Differences became non significant when BMI was entered in the model. The results of the present study suggest that former smoking status is associated with a higher prevalence of overweight which may cause a higher prevalence of hypertension.

We assessed the long-term (M +/- SE: 68 +/- 3 months) arterial pressure and renal function of cadaveric kidney transplant recipients with and without significant (> 70% diameter reduction) transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) at angiography. Baseline clinical, immunological and outcome data for 26 patients with TRAS (incidence of TRAS: 6.6%) before and following angioplasty and 72 patients without stenosis at angiography were reviewed and analyzed. The 2 groups were similar with respect to recipient sex ratio and age (45 vs 46), duration of transplantation (7 months), cause of renal failure, donor sex and age, HLA-antigen mismatches and titers of anti-HLA antibodies, CMV infection and anti-CMV antibodies in donors and recipients. The technical success of angioplasty was 92.3%. Restenosis was documented in 6/26 patients (23.1%). Revascularization resulted in a decrease of arterial pressure and number of antihypertensive medications and a lower serum creatinine compared to baseline values. The long-term arterial pressure and serum creatinine levels were similar in patients with and without stenosis. In conclusion, TRAS after revascularization had no detectable influence on the long-term arterial pressure control and renal function within a follow-up period of 68 +/- 3 months.

Similar to endothelial modulation of vascular tone, nitric oxide (NO) released from the coronary and endocardial endothelium may modulated LV performance with an improvement of LV diastolic distensibility. The aim of the present study was to assess a potential relationship between endothelial function and LV performance in essential hypertension. Thirty-nine normotensive subjects (NT) and 46 never treated hypertensive patients (HT) were grouped according to the renal vasodilatatory response to infusion of L-arginine (30 g within 60 min). HT patients responders to L-arginine (n = 19) were defined by an increased > or = 5% of renal plasma flow (RPF) estimated by the clearance of I-Hippuran. LV mass index and afterload-corrected fractional shortening were determined by echocardiography. Mitral peak early (E) and late (A) diastolic flow velocity were assessed by Doppler. Results of ANOVA were (means +/- SD): [table: see text] In HT patients E/A was positively correlated with %RPF (r = 0.27; p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with age (r = -0.52 p < 0.01) and systolic BP (r = -0.36 p < 0.01). In multiple regression analysis the relation between E/A and %RPF was dependent of age. This results confirm that aging and hypertension are the main determinants of the alteration of LV diastolic function. The link between these factors may be the endothelium which abnormal regulatory function secondary to aging and HT may be associated to an impairment of NO dependent LV relaxation.

The level of arterial pressure is not the sole determinant of cardiac and vascular adaptation to hypertension. In order to identify other factors (such as preload) we categorized by echocardiography, 55 never treated hypertensive patients and 39 age and gender-matched normal subjects, according to values of relative wall thickness and left ventricular mass index. Normal left ventricular anatomy was found in 63% hypertensives, whereas among hypertensives 7% had "concentric left ventricular remodeling", 16% concentric left ventricular hypertrophy and 14% had eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy. Systolic left atrial area (LA) was obtained from the four-chamber views. Mitral peak early diastolic (E) and late diastolic (A) flow velocity was assessed by Doppler. Because clinical characteristics such age and sex differed among the 5 groups only results of ANCOVA were reported (means +/- SD). [table: see text] We conclude that eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy may be associated with a parallel increase of left atrial area. Thus the association of an increase of cardiac volume in hypertensive patients with normal diastolic function suggest that volume overload may modulate the effect of arterial pressure on cardiac morphology.

Left ventricular contractile performance and geometric adaptation to hypertension were investigated in 255 patients with untreated essential hypertension and 160 normotensive subjects by M-mode echocardiography. Because all "ejection-phase" measurements are affected by changes in afterload, ventricular performance was estimated at the operating level of systolic wall stress by the afterload-corrected fractional shortening. Mitral regurgitation was excluded in all patients by Doppler echocardiography. Patients were categorized according to values of end-diastolic relative wall thickness and left ventricular mass index. Among hypertensive patients, ventricular mass and relative wall thickness were normal in 44%, whereas 20% had increase relative wall thickness with normal ventricular mass "concentric remodeling", 22% had concentric hypertrophy (increase both ventricular mass and relative wall thickness) and 14% had increased ventricular mass with normal relative wall thickness (eccentric hypertrophy). Arterial pressure and body mass index were higher in patients with concentric hypertrophy. Left ventricular contractile performance paralleled ventricular geometry, with a decrease of the afterload-corrected fractional shortening in the group with concentric remodeling and hypertrophy, whereas systolic function was normal in the eccentric group despite higher level of systolic wall stress. This study suggests a strong dependence of left ventricular mass with chamber size and myocardial contractility. Thus arterial pressure was not the sole determinant of left ventricular hypertrophy in essential hypertension. The respective role of this factors remains to be determined.

The level of arterial pressure is not the sole determinant of cardiac adaptation to hypertension. In order to identify other factors (such as preload as well as neuro-humoral factors) we categorized by M-mode echocardiography, 192 never treated patients with mild to moderate hypertension of short duration, according to values of end-diastolic relative wall thickness (RWT) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Mitral regurgitation was excluded in all patients by Doppler echocardiography. Among hypertensive patients, LVMI and RWT were normal in 43% (group 1), whereas 20% had increase RWT with normal LVMI "concentric remodeling" (group 2), 24% had concentric hypertrophy (increase both LVMI and RWT) (group 3) and 13% had increased LVMI with normal RWT (eccentric hypertrophy) (group 4). Results presented as means +/- SD. [table: see text] In addition the acute response after ACE-inhibition (captopril 50 mg) of mean arterial pressure was significantly attenuated in group 4 when compared with group 1. These results suggest that the effect of arterial pressure on the heart may be modulated by volume overload (low PRA and high CI) in hypertensive patients with eccentric LV hypertrophy with normal LV function.