arterial hypertension – ABC CARDIOL

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Editorial

Hypertension as another Facet of Passive Smoking

Gilson Soares Feitosa

Smoking and hypertension are recognized risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Efforts have been made to clarify their potential harm, as well as the benefits resulting from their control among the general population.

Passive smoking has received less attention regarding its harmful role. Initially, the focus was on irritation of the rhino and nasopharynx, and only more recently, on lung-related problems and cardiovascular diseases.

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Editorial

Obesity-Induced Hypertension

Claudio Leinig Pereira da Cunha

Arterial hypertension (AH) and obesity are two of the most common diseases and can often be interrelated, causing significant cardiovascular damage. Excess weight typically raises blood pressure, and weight loss usually lowers blood pressure. In addition to increasing the risk of hypertension, overweight and obesity increase cardiovascular risk through effects on lipids, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke, insulin resistance, and other cardiometabolic processes, as well as promoting higher mortality from all causes. In this Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia issue, Santos et al. present a study of laboratory and clinical markers that associate AH with obesity in patients with indication for bariatric surgery.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased significantly. Individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m , between 1980 and 2013, increased from 28.8% to 36.9% of the world population among men and from 29.8% to 38.0% among women. In Brazil, 52.4% of the population was overweight in 2014, with 17.9% being obese.

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Editorial

Can Attenuated Nocturnal Dipping be a Predictor of the Severity and Complexity of Coronary Artery Disease in Hospitalized Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome?

Andrea Pio-Abreu

It is well established that there are significant prognostic implications resulting from the abnormal behavior of some 24-hour blood pressure (BP) parameters obtained through Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM). Among them, the abnormal behavior of the mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) in 24 hours, wakefulness and sleep, stand out. Specifically regarding the behavior of BP during sleep, it is already well established that the absence of nocturnal dipping has, independently, a significant impact on the increased cardiovascular risk.^, Other parameters that may have prognostic implications are early morning BP elevation and greater 24-hour BP variability.^,

Some recommendations are essential for the success of the ABPM exam, among them, the orientation for the patient to maintain their usual activities during the monitoring day. In this sense, assessing the circadian pattern of BP in hospitalized patients is not one of the indications of the method, even intending to study specific outcomes.

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Original Article

Detection of incipient left ventricular hypertrophy in mild to moderate arterial hypertension with normal electrocardiogram and echocardiogram: a new use for signal-averaged electrocardiography

Paulo Ginefra et al. Eduardo C. Barbosa P. R. Benchimol-Barbosa Alfredo S. Bomfim … Sílvia H. Boghossian Angelo A. Salgado Flávia G. Brasil Elizabete A. Freitas Francisco M. Albanesi Filho

OBJECTIVE: To assess signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) for diagnosing incipient left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). METHODS: A study with 115 individuals was carried out. The individuals were divided as follows: GI – 38 healthy individuals; GII – 47 individuals with mild to moderate hypertension and normal findings on echocardiogram and ECG; and GIII – 30 individuals with hypertension and documented LVH. The magnitude vector of the SAECG was analyzed with the high-pass cutoff frequency of 40 Hz through the bidirectional four-pole Butterworth high-pass digital filter. The mean quadratic root of the total QRS voltage (RMST) and the two-dimensional integral of the QRS area of the spectro-temporal map were analyzed between 0 and 30 Hz for the frequency domain (Int FD), and between 40 and 250 Hz for the time domain (Int TD). The electrocardiographic criterion for LVH was based on the Cornell Product. Left ventricular mass was calculated with the Devereux formula. RESULTS: All parameters analyzed increased from GI to GIII, except for Int FD (GII vs GIII) and RMST log (GII vs GIII). Int TD showed greater accuracy for detecting LVH with an appropriate cutoff > 8 (sensitivity of 55%, specificity of 81%). Positive values (> 8) were found in 56.5% of the G II patients and in 18.4% of the GI patients (p< 0.0005). CONCLUSION: SAECG can be used in the early diagnosis of LVH in hypertensive patients with normal ECG and echocardiogram.

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Original Article

Effects of Sibutramine on the Treatment of Obesity in Patients with Arterial Hypertension

Alessandra Nunes Faria et al. Fernando Flexa Ribeiro Filho Daniel Diniz G. Lerário Nárcia Kohlmann … Sandra Roberta Gouvea Ferreira Maria Teresa Zanella

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of weight reduction with 10mg of sibutramine or placebo on blood pressure during 24 hours (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring), on left ventricular mass, and on antihypertensive therapy in 86 obese and hypertensive patients for 6 months. METHODS: The patients underwent echocardiography, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and measurement of the levels of hepatic enzymes prior to and after treatment with sibutramine or placebo. RESULTS: The group using sibutramine had a greater weight loss than that using placebo (6.7% versus 2.5%; p<0.001), an increase in heart rate (78.3±7.3 to 82±7.9 bpm; p=0.02), and a reduction in the left ventricular mass/height index (105±29.3 versus 96.6±28.58 g/m; p=0.002). Both groups showed similar increases in the levels of alkaline phosphatase and comparable adjustments in antihypertensive therapy; blood pressure, however, did not change. CONCLUSION: The use of sibutramine caused weight loss and a reduction in left ventricular mass in obese and hypertensive patients with no interference with blood pressure or with antihypertensive therapy.

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Artigo Original

Arterial hypertension and family care: care provided to hypertensive individuals in a small municipality in Southern Brazil

Luciano Burigo de Sousa et al. Regina Kazue Tanno de Souza Maria José Scochi

OBJECTIVE: This transversal study was developed from the analysis of indicators which express the desirable approach for programmatic actions, with the objective of evaluating the performance of a Family Healthcare Center in its attendance to patients suffering from arterial hypertension living in a small municipal district. METHODS: The research was carried out starting from the analysis of the records of enrollment in the program, Record A from SIAB (Primary Care Information System), of 418 individuals suffering from arterial hypertension. It was also analyzed the information of 351 files from the health center. In addition, 376 interviews were carried out with individuals living in the vicinity of the health center, in the year of 2003. The following variables were studied: gender, age, family income, home conditions, health services used presence of diabetes mellitus, average number of individuals attended and attendance concentration. RESULTS: Women above 60 years of age prevailed in 65.7% of the cases. The hypertension prevalence rate on individuals who searched for care was of 18%, being different among gender, among women it was of 22.3%. The average number of appointments with a doctor was of 64.1%; 32.4% for appointments with a nurse, and 36.4% for home medical attendance. The information on files revealed that 25.8% of the individuals were not assisted in 2003 and 52.7% received no assistance in the last semester. The concentration of services was below preconization. CONCLUSION: The information revealed no organization on the attention to the preventive health care, focusing the assistance to a spontaneous demand, expressing unpreparedness in the use of information systems for the planning and evaluation of the actions.

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Artigo Original

Assessment of left ventricular diastolic function in hypertensive patients under different hemodynamic conditions: comparative study between transmitral and tissue doppler echocardiography

Luiz Cláudio Danzmann et al. Valéria Centeno de Freitas Luiz Felipe Araújo Marco Antonio Rodrigues Torres

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the behavior of LV diastolic displacement velocities of basal posterior septum near mitral ring segment obtained by tissue Doppler in relation to mitral flow velocities of hypertensive subjects, submitted to preload increase by left inferior limbs elevation for 5 minutes, and during 1 minute of handgrip (conditions 1 and 2, respectively). METHODS: Twenty five outpatients (15 men, 52±11 years), with arterial hypertension > 3 years, by the transmitral flow Doppler variables: E, A and E/A, and of tissue Doppler: E’, A’ and E’/A’, in basal situation and in conditions 1 and 2. For comparison of results in basal situation with conditions 1 and 2 a paired t test was applied. RESULTS: E(cm/s) varied from 68,88 ± 11,94 to 75,82 ± 15,71* and E’(cm/s) varied from 8,22 ± 2,30 to 8,31 ± 2,24 in condition 1 (p<0.05). In addition, a comparison of variation percent (%) of Doppler transmitral indices with corresponding tissue Doppler indices variation % showed a significant difference between E and E’, with preload increase (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with left ventricular adaptation to systemic arterial hypertension showed less modification of the index E' than E, after preload increase maneuver, an evidence that may suggest its more ample utilization in the context of echocardiographic left ventricular diastolic function evaluation

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Study of the prevalence and multiplicity of cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive individuals from the city of Brusque, SC, Brazil

Nilton Rosini et al. Marcos José Machado Hermes Toros Xavier

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and multiplicity of additional risk factors (RF) in a population sample of hypertensive smokers, diagnosed and enrolled at the Hiperdia Program of the Ministry of Health, in the city of Brusque, SC, Brazil. METHODS: Determination of the anthropometrical parameters and laboratory variables recognized as cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: Elevated prevalence of RF in addition to systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and smoking, configuring the multiplicity that concurs with a marked elevation of the risk of cardiovascular events in this population sample. CONCLUSION: In hypertensive populations, the prevention, identification and RF control measures must be implemented; computerized programs such as the Hiperdia/MS can help in patients’ follow-up, allowing a more stringent multidisciplinary approach, especially regarding the analysis of the attainment of treatment goals and the subsequent decrease of cardiovascular risk.

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Artigo Original

Effects of the prolonged inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme on the morphological and functional characteristics of left ventricular hypertrophy in rats with persistent pressure overload

Edson Antonio Bregagnollo et al. Katashi Okoshi Isamara Fernanda Bregagnollo Carlos Roberto Padovani … Marina P. Okoshi Antonio Carlos Cicogna

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of lisinopril (L) on mortality (M) rate and congestive heart failure (CHF), and the characteristics of geometrical myocardial remodeling and left ventricular function in rats with supravalvular aortic stenosis (SAS). METHODS: Some Wistar rats underwent SAS or the simulated surgery (CG, n=10). After 6 weeks, the animals were randomized to receive lisinopril (LG, n=30) or no treatment (SG, n=73) for 15 weeks. Cardiac remodeling was assessed in the sixth and 21st weeks after the surgical procedures through concomitant echocardiographic, hemodynamic, and morphological studies. RESULTS: The M were 53.9% and 16.7% in SG and LG, respectively; the incidence of CHF was 44.8% and 20%, in SG and LG, respectively, (P<0.05). At the end of the experiment, the values of LV systolic pressure in SG and LG were equivalent and significantly greater than those in CG;(P<0.05) and did not differ from those observed 6 weeks after the surgical procedures. The values of LV diastolic pressure in SG were greater than those in LG;(P<0.05), and both were greater than those in CG;(P0.05), and both were greater than those in SG;(P<0.05). Similar results were obtained with the values of the positive and negative first derivate of LV pressure. CONCLUSION: In rats with SAS, the treatment with L reduced M rate and ICC and had beneficial effects on geometrical myocardial remodeling and left ventricular function.

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Artigo Original

Complications of hypertension in men and women seen in a referral outpatient care unit

Antonio Carlos Beisl Noblat et al. Marcelo Barreto Lopes Gildete Barreto Lopes Antonio Alberto Lopes

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between sex and left ventricular hypertrophy, stroke, and renal failure in hypertensive patients in a referral outpatient care unit. METHODS: This study assessed 622 hypertensive patients diagnosed with left ventricular hypertrophy based on electrocardiography, renal failure based on serum creatinine level > 1.4 mg/dL, and stroke based on a previous history and physical examination. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio of the association between sex and target-organ lesions in hypertension adjusted for race, age, and duration of the disease. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 48.4±13.8 years; 74.1% were women, and 84.9% were mulattos or blacks. Almost half of the men and more than 40% of the women had had at least 1 definite event involving a target-organ lesion. The incidence of renal failure was greater among men [adjusted OR (ORa) = 2.73, P= 0.002]. In white patients, the incidence of stroke was significantly (P= 0.017) greater among men (4/33) than among women (0/56), and, in the age group > 49 years, the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy was significantly greater among men (ORa = 1.99, P= 0.024). CONCLUSION: The data obtained suggest a greater prevalence of renal failure in men than in women, of stroke in white men than in white women, and of left ventricular hypertrophy in men than in women aged 49 years and above.

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Artigo Original

Analysis of heart rate variability in hypertensive patients before and after treatment with angiotensin II-converting enzyme inhibitors

Antônio da Silva Menezes Júnior et al. Humberto Graner Moreira Murilo Tavares Daher

OBJECTIVE: To compare heart rate variability in normotensive and hypertensive individuals and to observe the behavior of the autonomic nervous system after treatment with angiotensin II-converting enzyme inhibitors. METHOD: The study comprised 286 patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension (AH) for the first time and divided into 4 groups according to diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels: group A – DBP110 mmHg. Group A (110 healthy individuals) and group C (79 patients with moderate AH) underwent 24-hour Holter-ECG with analysis of heart rate variability in time domain (TD) and frequency domain (FD). The group C patients were treated with ACE inhibitors for 3 months, and, after this period, they underwent a new 24-hour Holter-ECG study for assessing heart rate variability, the values being compared with those of normotensive individuals. RESULTS: The SDNN and PNN50 parameters (TD), and the LF spectrum (FD) were significantly different in the 2 groups, with clearly reduced values in hypertensive individuals (P<0.05). Group C patients, after treatment with ACE inhibitors, showed a recovery in all variables of heart rate variability, achieving values close to those of normotensive individuals. CONCLUSION: Heart rate variability was reduced in hypertensive patients when compared with that in normotensive individuals, indicating a decrease in the baroreceptor reflex. A functional autonomic adjustment after the antihypertensive treatment with ACEI was observed, indicating recovery of parasympathetic tonus.

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Artigo Original

Race and hypertensive target-organ damage in patients from an university-affiliated outpatient care referral clinic in the city of Salvador

Antonio Carlos Beisl Noblat et al. Marcelo Barreto Lopes Antonio Alberto Lopes

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether a patient’s race is associated with the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy, stroke, and renal failure in hypertensive patients from an outpatient care referral clinic in the city of Salvador in the state of Bahia. METHODS: We assessed the data of 622 patients collected during their first visit to the hypertension outpatient care clinic between 1982 and 1986, identifying those with a previous history or sequela of stroke, left ventricular hypertrophy, or renal failure (serum creatinine > 1.4 mg/dL). Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of the association between race (mulattos or black vs white individuals) and hypertensive target-organ damage adjusted for sex and age. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 53.8±14.3 years, and 74.1% were women. In regard to race, 15.1% were white, 65.9% mulatto, and 19.0% black. Stroke was significantly more frequent in blacks or mulattos than in white individuals [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) = (1.23-9.67). In regard to the associations involving race and the events of left ventricular hypertrophy and renal failure, the aORs were not statistically significant but were consistent with a greater prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy and renal failure in blacks and mulattos. CONCLUSION: Hypertensive mulattos and blacks have a greater risk of target-organ damage than white individuals do, with a greater racial difference for nonfatal stroke. Whether racial differences in mortality related to hypertensive complications influence the associations observed between race and target-organ damage should be assessed.

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Original Article

Exercise testing in hypertensive patients taking different angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors

Maria Angela M. Q. Carreira et al. Leandro R. Tavares Rafaela F. Leite Jamila C. Ribeiro … Antônio C. Santos Karla G. Pereira Guilhermo C. Velarde Antonio Claudio L. Nóbrega

OBJECTIVE: To compare blood pressure response to dynamic exercise in hypertensive patients taking trandolapril or captopril. METHODS: We carried out a prospective, randomized, blinded study with 40 patients with primary hypertension and no other associated disease. The patients were divided into 2 groups (n=20), paired by age, sex, race, and body mass index, and underwent 2 symptom-limited exercise tests on a treadmill before and after 30 days of treatment with captopril (75 to 150 mg/day) or trandolapril (2 to 4 mg/day). RESULTS: The groups were similar prior to treatment (p<0.05), and both drugs reduced blood pressure at rest (p<0.001). During treatment, trandolapril caused a greater increase in functional capacity (+31%) than captopril (+17%; p=0.01) did, and provided better blood pressure control during exercise, observed as a reduction in the variation of systolic blood pressure/MET (trandolapril: 10.7±1.9 mmHg/U vs 7.4±1.2 mmHg/U, p=0.02; captopril: 9.1±1.4 mmHg/U vs 11.4±2.5 mmHg/U, p=0.35), a reduction in peak diastolic blood pressure (trandolapril: 116.8±3.1 mmHg vs 108.1±2.5 mmHg, p=0.003; captopril: 118.2±3.1 mmHg vs 115.8±3.3 mmHg, p=0.35), and a reduction in the interruption of the tests due to excessive elevation in blood pressure (trandolapril: 50% vs 15%, p=0.009; captopril: 50% vs 45%, p=0.32). CONCLUSION: Monotherapy with trandolapril is more effective than that with captopril to control blood pressure during exercise in hypertensive patients.

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Original Article

The Yanomami indians in the INTERSALT study

Jairo de Jesus Mancilha-Carvalho et al. Nelson Albuquerque de Souza e Silva

OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution and inter-relationship among constitutional and biochemical variables with blood pressure (BP) in an population of Yanomami indians. To compare these findings with those of other populations. METHODS: The Yanomami indians were part of the INTERSALT, a study comprising 10,079 males and females, aged from 20 to 59 years, belonging to 52 populations in 32 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Each of the 52 centers was required to accrue 200 individuals, 25 participants in each age group. The variables analyzed were as follows: age, sex, arterial BP, urinary sodium and potassium excretion (24-hour urine), body mass index, and alcohol ingestion. RESULTS: The findings in the Yanomami population were as follows: a very low urinary sodium excretion (0.9 mmol/24h); mean systolic and diastolic BP levels of 95.4 mmHg and 61.4 mmHg, respectively; no cases of hypertension or obesity; and they have no knowledge of alcoholic beverages. Their BP levels do not elevate with age. The urinary sodium excretion relates positively and the urinary potassium excretion relates negatively to systolic BP. This correlation was maintained even when controlled for age and body mass index. CONCLUSION: A positive relation between salt intake and blood pressure was detected in the analysis of a set of diverse populations participating in the INTERSALT Study, including populations such as the Yanomami Indians. The qualitative observation of their lifestyle provided additional information.

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Original Article

End-systolic pressure-diameter relation of the left ventricle during transient and sustained elevations of blood pressure

Edson Antonio Bregagnollo et al. Katashi Okoshi Beatriz Bojikian Matsubara Paulo José Ferreira Tucci

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of transient and sustained variations in cardiac load on the values of the end-systolic pressure-diameter relation (ESPDR) of the left ventricle. METHODS: We studied 13 dogs under general anesthesia and autonomic blockade. Variations of cardiac loads were done by elevation of blood pressure by mechanical constriction of the aorta. Two protocols were used in each animal: gradual peaking and decreasing pressure variation, the “transient arterial hypertension protocol” (TAH), and a quick and 10 min sustained elevation, the “sustained arterial hypertension protocol”(SAH). Then, we compared the ESDR in these two situations. RESULTS: Acute elevation of arterial pressure, being it “transitory” or “sustained”, did not alter the heart frequency and increased similarly the preload and after load. However, they acted differently in end systolic pressure-diameter relation. It was greater in the SAH than TAH protocol, 21.0±7.3mmHg/mm vs. 9.2±1.2mmHg/mm (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The left ventricular ESPDR values determined during sustained pressure elevations were higher than those found during transient pressure elevations. The time-dependent activation of myocardial contractility associated with the Frank-Starling mechanism is the major factor in inotropic stimulation during sustained elevations of blood pressure, determining an increase in the ESPDR values.

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Artigo Original

Morphological changes of muscular arteries in hypertensive patients

Mario Fritsch Toros Neves et al. Julia Fernandes Souza Wille Oigman

PURPOSE: To identify structural lesions in the wall of uterine arteries in hypertensive women. METHODS: Twenty six patients who underwent an elective hysterectomy were selected and separated in two groups. Group 1 was formed by women with normal blood pressure and group 2 consisted of hypertensive patients without regular treatment. Two segments of the uterine artery were obtained from every patient shortly after surgery. The fragments were fixed, sliced and stained. The morphological study was carried out using optical microscopy. RESULTS: Age was similar in both groups with means of 46.8+7.6 and 46.7+6.4 years-old in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The average maximal systolic and diastolic blood pressure during hospital admition were 130.0+3.4 and 83.8+6.5mmHg in the control group and 163.8+4.3 and 105.8+9.9mmHg in the hypertensive group (p<0.0001). Hypertensive women had larger intimal thickness (p<0.05). Elastic fibers were also more numerous and homogeneous in group 2. Cellular hypertrophy was more common in this group than in control patients (53.8% vs 23.1%). CONCLUSION: Hypertension seems to accelerate the age-related increase in intima thickness. Hypertensive women have more numerous and homogeneous elastic fibers in the wall of the uterine artery. These findings indicate that hypertension may determine structural changes similar to vascular aging.

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Original Article

Reduction in diastolic blood pressure and cardiovascular mortality in nondiabetic hypertensive patients. A reanalysis of the HOT study

Antonio Alberto Lopes et al. Jadelson Andrade Antonio Carlos Beisl Noblat Marco Antonio Silveira

OBJECTIVE: To use published Hypertension Optimal Treatment (HOT) Study data to evaluate changes in cardiovascular mortality in nondiabetic hypertensive patients according to the degree of reduction in their diastolic blood pressure. METHODS: In the HOT Study, 18,700 patients from various centers were allocated at random to groups having different objectives of for diastolic blood pressure: <=90 (n=6264); <=85 (n=6264); <=80mmHg (n=6262). Felodipine was the basic drug used. Other antihypertensive drugs were administered in a sequential manner, aiming at the objectives of diastolic blood pressure reduction. RESULTS: The group of nondiabetic hypertensive subjects with diastolic pressure<=80mmHg had a cardiovascular mortality ratio of 4.1/1000 patients/year, 35.5% higher than the group with diastolic pressure <=90mmHg (cardiovascular mortality ratio, 3.1/1000 patients/year). In contrast, diabetic patients allocated to the diastolic pressure objective group of <=80mmHg had a 66.7% reduction in cardiovascular mortality (3.7/1000 patients/year) when compared with the diastolic pressure group of <=90mmHg (cardiovascular mortality ratio, 11.1/1000 patients/year). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that in hypertensive diabetic patients reduction in diastolic blood pressure to levels <=80mmHg decreases the risk of fatal cardiovascular events. It remains necessary to define the level of diastolic blood pressure <=90mmHg at which maximal reduction in cardiovascular mortality is obtained for nondiabetics.

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Original Article

Diet and medication in the treatment of hyperuricemia in hypertensive patients

Maria do Rosário Gondim Peixoto et al. Estelamaris Tronco Monego Paulo César B. Veiga Jardim Magna Maria Carvalho … Ana Luiza Lima Sousa Jonivan Siqueira de Oliveira Otavio Balestra Neto

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of diet and medication, either isolated or associated, on serum levels of uric acid in patients with hyperuricemia. METHODS: We studied patients from the Hypertension Unit of the University of Goias who had hyperuricemia (men > or = 8.5mg/dL and women > or = 7.5mg/dL). We divided the patients into three groups: G1 (low purine diet), G2 (low purine diet + medication), and G3 (medication only). Patients received allopurinol, 150mg/day titrated up to 300mg/dL when necessary. Patients were evaluated with regards to their lifestyles (diet, smoking, physical, activity, alcohol consumption), uric acid, blood pressure, use of medication, body mass index, cholesterol, and triglyceride. Follow-up took place in weeks 0 (M1), 6 (M2), 12 (M3) during the intervention and in week 36(M4) after the study was completed. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients participated in the study, 31 women, mean age 54.4±10.6 years, body mass index 28.6±3.9kg/m². A similar reduction (p<0.001) in uric acid levels occurred in the three intervention groups. In week 36 (M4), after 24 weeks without intervention, a tendency toward elevation of uricemia was noted in G2 and G3, and a continuous drop in uricemia was noted in G1. No significant modifications were observed in the other variables analyzed. CONCLUSION: Considering the cost x benefit relationship, a diet low in purine should be the 1st therapeutic option for controlling hyperuricemia in patients with similar characteristic to the ones presented in this study.

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Artigo Original

Arterial dysfunction as a possible mechanism of cardiac injury in type II diabetic patients. A Doppler-echocardiographic study

Beatriz Bojikian Matsubara et al. Katashi Okoshi Marina Politi Okoshi Luiz Shiguero Matsubara … Walkyria P. Pimenta José C. Christovan Carlos R. Padovani Antonio Carlos Cicogna

PURPOSE: To evaluate the left ventricular structure and function and the arterial stiffness in type II diabetic patients. METHODS: Thirteen diabetic patients, men and women (age 55±8 years) were included in the study. None of the patients had any other clinical disorders. Doppler-echocardiography and non-invasive monitoring of arterial blood pressure were performed. All the results were compared to an age and sex matched control group (n=12). RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups for diastolic blood pressure, dimensions of cardiac chambers and ventricular systolic and diastolic function indexes. Diabetic patients had increased left ventricular mass index (101±10 vs 80±14g/m²; p<0.001) and increased arterial stiffness (0.86±0.26 vs 0.69±0.19mmHg/mL; p<0.05), when compared to control group. CONCLUSION: Diabetes mellitus is associated to increased systemic arterial stiffness and this may contribute to the adverse effects of diabetes on left ventricular morphology.

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Original Article

Response of blood pressure to maximum exercise in hypertensive patients under different therapeutic programs

Maria Angela Magalhães de Queiroz Carreira et al. Jamila Costa Ribeiro José Antônio Caldas Leandro Reis Tavares Eduardo Nani

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the behavior of blood pressure during exercise in patients with hypertension controlled by frontline antihypertension drugs. METHODS: From 979ergometric tests we retrospectively selected 49 hipertensive patients (19 males). The age was 53±12 years old and normal range rest arterial pressure ( or = 10 mmHg/MET; or increase of diastolic pressure greater than 15 mmHg. RESULTS: Physiologic response of arterial blood pressure occurred in 50% of patients on beta blockers, the best one (p<0.05), in 36% and 31% on calcium antagonists and on diuretics, respectively, and in 20% on angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, the later the leastr one (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Beta-blockers were more effective than calcium antagonists, diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in controlling blood pressure during exercise, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors the least effective drugs.

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