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Background: Blood pressure variability (BPV) has been postulated as a potential predictor of cardiovascular outcomes. No agreement exists as to which measurement method is best for BPV estimation. We attempt to assess the correlation between BPV obtained at the doctor's office, self-measurement at home (SMBP) and ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM)., Methods: Eight weekly clinic BP measurements, 2 SMBP series, and 1 24-hour ABPM recording were carried out in a sample of treated hypertensive patients. BPV was calculated using the SD, the "coefficient of variation" and the "average real variability." Determinants of short-, mid-, and long-term BPV (within each measurement method) were also calculated. The different BPV determinants were correlated "intramethod" and "intermethod" by linear regression test., Results: For the 104 patients (66.5 ± 7.7 years, 58.7% males), the ABPM BPV (SD, systolic/diastolic: 14.5 ± 3.1/9.8 ± 2.5 mm Hg) was higher than the SMBP (12.2 ± 9.8/7.4 ± 5.8 mm Hg; P < 0.001) and clinic BPV (10 ± 8.9/5.9 ± 4.9 mm Hg; P = 0.001). The main BPV correlation between methods was weak, with a maximum R2 = 0.17 (P < 0.001) between clinic and SMBP systolic BPV. The "intramethod" correlation of BPV yielded a maximum R2 = 0.21 (P < 0.001) between morning diastolic SMBP intershift/intermeans variability. The "intermethod" correlation of short-, mid-, and long-term BPV determinants was weak (maximum R2 = 0.22, P < 0.001, between clinic intraday variability/SMBP morning intershift variability)., Conclusions: The "intramethod" and "intermethod" correlation between BPV determinants was weak or nonexistent, even when comparing determinants reflecting the same type of temporal BPV. Our data suggest that BPV reflects a heterogeneous phenomenon that strongly depends on the estimation method and the time period evaluated., (© American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd 2017. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com)

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of seven examinations in order to define the most suitable strategy for target organ damage (TOD) search in hypertensive patients., Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study. 153 consecutive treated and essential hypertensive patients were enrolled. Patients with established cardiovascular or chronic renal disease (stage ≥4) were excluded. TOD search was assessed by: glomerular filtration rate (GFR), albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram (ECO), ankle-brachial index (ABI), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and carotid ultrasound (intima media thickness and presence of plaques). The rationale of our strategy ought to determine the performance of applying a set of the most widely available tests (GFR, ACR, ABI, ECG) and advise about the optimal sequence of the remaining tests., Results: The sample was 64.4±7.9 years old, 45.8% males. 82.6% of the sample had any TOD at all. The resulting algorithm found a 37% TOD in relation to GFR, ACR, ABI and ECG values. Adding carotid ultrasound added up to 70% of the studied population and properly classified (TOD+/TOD-) 89% of the cohort. When performing PWV, 78% of the patients had been identified as TOD+ and 96% of the population was correctly identified. Contribution of ECO was minor., Conclusion: After running the more widely available explorations (GFR, ACR, ABI, ECG), a step-by-step strategy that included carotid ultrasound, PWV and ECO could be the best sequence for TOD search in asymptomatic hypertensive patients., (Copyright © 2017 SEH-LELHA. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The following article reviews some of the most recent data that have come to light in the field of hypertension during the last year, including the long lasting controversy USA/Europe on the definition and treatment of hypertension, the importance of the interrelationship hypertension/sleep apnea syndrome, to conclude by discussing some of the most compelling implications of the main trials that have been published during the last few months.

Since publication of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Clinical Practice Guidelines on High Blood Pressure in January 2000, a new body of scientific evidence has been obtained that needs to be taken into account in clinical practice. A complete clinical evaluation by assessment of the global cardiovascular risk score should be done in patients with hypertension. In this connection, ECG findings and urine albumin excretion are of particular value. Up to now, the results of most important clinical trials indicate that the aim should be to normalize blood pressure, with stricter control in patients at higher risk (diabetes, target organ damage or left ventricular hypertrophy). Antihypertensive therapy should be selected on an individual basis, taking in account that patients with certain associated pathologies will benefit more from particular groups of drugs. Those with diabetes or left ventricular hypertrophy seem to benefit from pharmacological block of the renin-angiotensin system, and patients with heart failure from combined therapy with ACE inhibitors plus beta-blockers.

High blood pressure is a well-known cardiovascular risk factor that is responsible for an elevated morbidity and mortality. However, although efficacious drugs for treatment and numerous and updated scientific training programs are available, the reality is that only a low percentage of patients are followed up in accordance with the rates which are presently considered normal. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide medical guidance for the prevention, detection and evaluation of hypertension, and to provide the best diagnosis and treatment. The factors involved in cardiovascular complications in the hypertensive patient are multiple. That is why this report places more emphasis in the individual cardiovascular risk stratification as part of the treatment strategy. The information obtained in the most recent studies published confirms the interest in achieving the greatest decrease in rates of blood pressure. This treatment to lower levels is especially useful in the high-risk subgroup. It maintains the necessity of nonpharmacological measures or lifestyle modifications in all patients with high blood pressure who either need or do not need drug therapy. All pharmacological groups may be used, but it is appropriate to choose the specific antihypertensive agent adapted to the clinical and individual situation with the use of low doses of drugs to initiate therapy and the use of appropriate drug combinations.

In order to study the relationship between tensional response of an hypertensive patient to exercise and its cardiac repercussions, we have studied 42 essential hypertensive patients using echocardiography type M and 2D and exercise test. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had (GI) or not (GII) left ventricular hypertrophy. LVH was defined calculating left ventricular mass (LVM) or mean wall thickness (MWT). We have found significant correlations between tensional response and LVH, using only MWT as the index of LVH. This correlation was significant not only with maximum systolic arterial pressure but also with systolic arterial pressure in all intermediate charge stages. Evolution time of arterial hypertension significantly correlated with the degree of LVH according to MWT and less significantly with LVM. We conclude that the correlation between tensional response to exercise and cardiac hypertrophy is always higher when considering MWT as the index of LVH since the calculating the mass some other parameters are also present which hinder its significance and that correlation is established not only in the maximum exercise level.

We have studied the effect of atenolol, xipamide, and verapamil in the control of effort tensional response in 54 patients suffering essential hypertension. A first effort test without treatment and a second after a one month treatment randomly assigned were performed in all patients, evaluating the tensional response at 30, 60 and 80 Watts of charge, maximum peak, and after five minutes in recovery. Atenolol significantly reduced (p less than 0.05) systolic arterial pressure and diastolic arterial pressure in every intermediate effort stage, maximum peak and post effort recovery, xipamide, also significantly reduced (p less than 0.05) the systolic hypertensive response at all different levels, however, the diastolic one did not reach any statistic significance. Verapamil at used doses did not modify neither systolic nor diastolic hypertensive response. The beneficial effect of beta-blockers is confirmed although we could not confirm the effect pointed out by other authors regarding calcium antagonists. Tensional control using xipamide was striking although there is some evidence to think that it can have a more important effect in the control than thiazide diuretics or amiloride.