1,721,977 research outputs found
Natriuretic peptides and cardio-renal disease.
No full textThe natriuretic peptide (NP) system is an important endocrine, autocrine and paracrine system, consisting of a family of peptides which provide cardiac, renal and vascular effects that, through their beneficial physiological actions, play a key role in maintaining overall cardiovascular health. Traditionally, the pathophysiological origins of cardio-renal disease have been viewed as the domain of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), with inappropriate activation of both systems leading to deleterious changes in cardio-renal function and structure. Therapies designed to suppress the RAAS and the SNS have been routinely employed to address the consequences of cardio-renal disease. However, it is now becoming increasingly apparent that enhancing the beneficial physiological effects of the NP system may represent an attractive alternative therapeutic approach to counter the pathophysiological effects of disease. In particular, innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing the physiological benefits afforded by NPs while simultaneously suppressing the RAAS are generating increasing interest as potential treatment options for the management of cardio-renal disease.The natriuretic peptide (NP) system is an important endocrine, autocrine and paracrine system, consisting of a family of peptides which provide cardiac, renal and vascular effects that, through their beneficial physiological actions, play a key role in maintaining overall cardiovascular health. Traditionally, the pathophysiological origins of cardio-renal disease have been viewed as the domain of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), with inappropriate activation of both systems leading to deleterious changes in cardio-renal function and structure. Therapies designed to suppress the RAAS and the SNS have been routinely employed to address the consequences of cardio-renal disease. However, it is now becoming increasingly apparent that enhancing the beneficial physiological effects of the NP system may represent an attractive alternative therapeutic approach to counter the pathophysiological effects of disease. In particular, innovativ
The changing role of hypertension societies: shifting gears in Italy.
No full text[No abstract available
Cardiovascular Risk in Hypertension – Can We Ask for More?
No full textThe burden of cardiovascular (CV) disease remains high nowadays, despite the tremendous development in the therapeutic strategies that has occurred during the last 30 years. The growing focus on pharmacological strategies capable of interacting with key pathophysiological mechanisms has resulted in a better control of CV disease. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in many pathophysiological processes underlying the development of major CV and renal diseases and, thus, it represents an 'ideal' target for the pharmacological treatment of these clinical conditions. Recently, in addition to the traditional therapeutic approaches, mostly based on the use of ACE inhibitors and/or angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists (angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs]), the scientific and medical community have focused on a new therapeutic possibility to interfere with RAS activity. Indeed, the first compound of the new drug class of direct renin inhibitors, aliskiren, has been made available for clinical use. The therapeutic properties of aliskiren are of particular interest, since it interferes with the enzymatic activities of renin, the key rate-limiting step of the RAS cascade. This unique mechanism of action, e.g. occupation of the renin active site, provides an 'upstream' modulation in the RAS enzymatic-proteic cascade. This results in an inhibition of the biological properties of renin to promote the cleavage of the angiotensin I peptide from the angiotensinogen substrate.Clinical studies have demonstrated that the use of aliskiren provides antihypertensive efficacy comparable with, or even superior to, that observed with other classes of antihypertensive drugs. Also, the addition of aliskiren to different antihypertensive strategies results in a further significant increase in blood pressure (BP) reduction than those achieved with monotherapy based on diuretics, calcium-channel antagonists, ACE inhibitors and ARBs. The overall safety and tolerability of aliskiren are comparable with other classes of antihypertensive drugs and almost overlap with placebo. Recent evidence also demonstrates that aliskiren is effective in promoting the regression of organ damage (e.g. microalbuminuria and left ventricular hypertrophy), beyond its BP-lowering properties and in addition to standard therapies, including ARBs. An ambitious programme of clinical development of this modern antihypertensive drug will investigate whether aliskiren may further limit the incidence of major CV and renal events in hypertensive patients with co-morbidities, treated with the available therapeutic strategies, including ACE inhibitors and ARBs
Hypertension therapy: Mixing, matching, and meeting targets
No full textThe inappropriate control of hypertension is a public health problem worldwide. It is notable that although there are several causes for this situation, lack of effective pharmacotherapy is not among them. It has long been known that combinations of anti hypertensive drugs are highly effective in most patients; the problem is implementing treatment recommendation guidelines into clinical practice with the most effective and best tolerated therapies. The latest guidelines on therapies for hypertension from the World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension, the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (US), and the European Societies of Hypertension and Cardiology consistently emphasize this need of combination treatments in a large part of the hypertensive patient population. This review focuses on the combination of one of the oldest drugs, thiazide diuretics, with one of the youngest, angiotensin-receptor blockers, and analyzes the available literature regarding potential applications in specific populations. This represents one of the most widely used, rational and effective combination therapies, combining excellent control of blood pressure with unequalled tolerability. In addition, angiotensin-receptor blocker/diuretic combinations may have cardiovascular benefits beyond those from blood pressure lowering itself
The role of atrial natriuretic factor in the control of circulatory homeostasis
No full text[No abstract available
Different strategies from monotherapies to dual or triple fixed dose combination therapies to achieve blood pressure goals. a summary of a satellite symposium from the European Society of Hypertension
No full textHigh Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Preventio
The Age of Nutraceuticals. Exploring New Therapeutic Targets
No full textComment on
Effects of a Novel Fixed Combination of Nutraceuticals on Serum Uric Acid Concentrations and the Lipid Profile in Asymptomatic Hyperuricemic Patients : Results from the PICONZ-UA Study. [High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev. 2016
- …
