Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic progressive disease of the pulmonary vasculature characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure and secondary right ventricular failure. PAH is considered a life-threatening condition unless treated. This article provides a comprehensive review of controlled and uncontrolled trials to define the risk-benefit for different therapeutic opt...

The therapeutic approach to the management of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is based on strategies to decrease pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) whilst ensuring optimal cardiorespiratory support to improve oxygenation. The goal is to maintain appropriate systemic blood pressure, ensure oxygen release to tissues and minimize lesions induced by oxygen and ventilation. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) r...

Systemic hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is present in 69% of patients with a first myocardial infarction, in 77% of patients with a first stroke, in 74% of patients with chronic heart failure, and in 60% of patients with peripheral arterial disease. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials have found that antihypertensive drug therapy reduces cardi...

A lthough thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics are indispensable drugs in the treatment of hypertension, their role as first-line or even second-line drugs is a provoking debate. The European Society of Cardiology/ European Society of Hypertension (ESC/ ESH) guidelines recommend that thiazide diuretics should be considered as suitable as b-blockers, calcium antagonists, ACE inhibitors, and angi...

Selection of Patients for Treatment ANY PATIENT who knows that he or she has a raised blood pressure requires treatment. For the majority, this will consist only of simple measures, e.g. weight reduction, reassurance and perhaps sedation to allay apprehension. However, the minority will require treatment with potent hypotensive drugs, and the selection of patients for such treatment remains dif...

OBJECTIVES To review the current therapeutic approach of intracranial hypertension in pediatric patients admitted to intensive care unit. SOURCES OF DATA Bibliographic review of the subject based on Medline. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS The authors noticed that some measures to control intracranial hypertension are consensual, and others remain controversial. CONCLUSION The goals of management...

High blood pressure is a risk factor which has been shown in well documented studies to be significantly associated with excess morbidity and mortality. For example, the Framingham study (Kannel, Wolf, Verter, and McNamara, 1970) showed an increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in initially asymptomatic persons whose initial pressures were 160/90 mm Hg or greater. The wort...