No abstract

A plenty of trials confirm the importance of aortic wall stiffness evaluation during estimation of the cardiovascular risk and the need for novel drugs influencing this parameter. Most of hypotensive medications modify arterial wall siffness by one or another way. So the usage of drug combination might be more effective. Insufficient impact of betaadrenoblockers on central artrial pressure is linked to peripheral vasoconstriction. The drugs within this class having vasodilatory properties significantly reduce central aortic pressure.

Hypertension remains a major contributor to the global burden of disease. The measurement of blood pressure continues to have pitfalls related to both physiological aspects and acute variation. As the left ventricle (LV) remains one of the main target organs of hypertension, and echocardiographic measures of structure and function carry prognostic information in this setting, the development of a consensus position on the use of echocardiography in this setting is important. Recent developments in the assessment of LV hypertrophy and LV systolic and diastolic function have prompted the preparation of this document. The focus of this work is on the cardiovascular responses to hypertension rather than the diagnosis of secondary hypertension. Sections address the pathophysiology of the cardiac and vascular responses to hypertension, measurement of LV mass, geometry, and function, as well as effects of treatment.