Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease: Pathophysiology and Treatment

Hypertension is a major world-wide health problem. With high blood pressure there is a greater risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease and renal failure. Far too few people realize what the risks are and what can be done to prevent these risks even in the countries where pro­ grams in hypertension research are active and the full significance of hyper­ tension is best understood. Some studies of the known hypertensive popu­ lation indicate that one-half or less are receiving adequate treatment, and, of those on therapy, only half have their high blood pressure satisfactorily controlled. These realizations emphasize the need to inform all segments of society throughout the world on the importance of detection and control of high blood pressure. The great incidence of hypertension makes it of para­ mount importance that all practicing physicians have available the latest information on diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive cardiovascular dis­ ease. This treatise on hypertension arrives at a time when there is an increasing recognition the world over of the importance of detecting and treating high blood pressure. The book has been edited by Dr. A. Amery and his asso­ ciates in the University of Leuven. Professor Amery is one of the leaders in the field of hypertension and serves on the Council of the International Society of Hypertension.

Contenu

I. Blood Pressure Control in Normotensive Subjects.- 1. Role of the kidney in blood pressure regulation.- 2. Role of central mechanisms in the blood pressure regulation.- 3. Arterial baroreflexes in normotensive and hypertensive man.- 4. Role of catecholamines in blood pressure regulation.- 5. Role of the renin-angiotensin system and prostaglandins in blood pressure regulation and sodium homeostasis.- 6. Role of kallikrein in blood pressure regulation.- 7. The lability of blood pressure.- II. Experimental Hypertension.- 8. Pathophysiology of hypertension in genetically hypertensive rats - environmental modification and prevention.- 9. The pathophysiology of hypertension: contributions of experimental pathophysiology.- III. Pathogenesis of Primary Hypertension.- 10. Role of changes in Na+ transport in cell membranes in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension.- 11. Pathophysiology of primary hypertension: role of adrenoceptors in the transformation from an early high cardiac output into a later high arteriolar resistance phase.- 12. Genetics in human hypertension.- 13. Psychophysiologic evidence for the role of the nervous system in hypertension.- 14. Interaction between functional and structural elements in primary hypertension.- 15. Role of the kidney in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension.- 16. Role of sodium in the pathogenesis of idiopathic hypertension.- 17. Role of obesity in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension.- 18. Role of catecholamines in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension.- 19. Role of renin in the control of the circulation in hypertensive disease and in heart failure.- 20. Blood pressure in the first years of life.- 21. Childhood hypertension.- 22. Hypertension in elderly.- 23. Borderline blood pressure elevation.- 24. Hemodynamics of primary hypertension.- IV. Repercussions of High Blood Pressure.- 25. Hypertension and the brain.- 26. The ocular fundus and hypertension.- 27. Influence of hypertension on the heart.- 28. Influence of hypertension on the kidney.- 29. Influence of hypertension on mortality.- 30. Malignant hypertension.- 31. Definition and classification of hypertension.- V. Secondary Hypertension.- 32. Hypertension secondary to coarctation.- 33. Hypertension secondary to renal parenchymal disease.- 34. Hypertension secondary to renovascular disease.- 35. Hypertension secondary to adrenal cortical disease.- 36. Hypertension secondary to pheochromocytoma.- 37. Hypertension secondary to thyroid dysfunction.- 38. Parathyroid function and hypertension.- 39. Hypertension in pregnancy.- 40. Hypertension secondary to contraceptive agents.- VI. Examination of the Hypertensive Patient.- 41. Clinical examination of the hypertensive patient including blood pressure measurement.- 42. Laboratory examination of the hypertensive patient.- 43. Radiological examination of the hypertensive patient.- VII. Antihypertensive Therapy.- 44. Non-drug treatment of hypertension.- 45. Diuretics as antihypertensive agents.- 46. Beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs as antihypertensive agents.- 47. Alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonists in hypertension.- 48. Vasodilators as antihypertensive agents.- 49. Methyldopa as an antihypertensive agent.- 50. Clonidine and imidazolines as antihypertensive agents.- 51. Blockers of the neuromuscular junction as antihypertensive agents.- 52. Ganglion blockers as antihypertensive agents.- 53. Inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system as antihypertensive agents.- 54. General strategy of antihypertensive treatment.- 55. The benefits of antihypertensive therapy.- 56. Hypertensive emergencies.- 57. Anesthesia and surgery in the hypertensive patient.- 58. Quality of life in hypertensive patients.- 59. Compliance to antihypertensive therapy.- Index of Authors.- Drug Index.