Synopses & Reviews
The book From Hypertension to Heart Failure will cover new aspects of the treatment of hypertension, arrhythmias, heart failure and coronary artery diseases. The topics will include new pathophysiological findings, the theoretical background of pharmacological treatment, results of the latest studies, and practical guidelines for treatment. Case reports will make the book applicable for a broad readership of general internists. The therapy of heart failure with betablockers is one of the most controversially discussed topics in cardiovascular medicine. Therefore, the book will critically deal with this new form of therapy for this disabling condition.
Synopsis
Arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease and heart fail ure are the commonest cardiovascular conditions to present in clinical practice. Over the past few years it has become in creasingly clear that they are closely and causally interrelated and that their relationship can have a significant bearing on prognosis. Epidemiological studies have shown that arterial hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for de veloping heart failure. Only one in four patients with hyper tension is adequately managed, and in 50% of cases, the hypertension has not been recognised or treated. Patients with pre-existing hypertension who go on to suffer an acute myocardial infarction have usually not previously had typi cal angina symptoms, the infarct territory is larger, life threatening arrhythmias are commoner and hence in-hospi tal mortality and long-term prognosis are markedly worse. The presence of raised blood pressure in the post-infarct phase doubles the risk of manifest heart failure. The close relationship between hypertension, coronary heart disease and heart failure makes the choice of therapeu tic strategy particularly important. Agents and classes of agents that have prognostic value in all three conditions should be considered first, as synergy might result in addi tional benefits. In such patients, this sort of therapeutic deci sion-making might have further advantages. The use of these agents may prevent complications which are not yet clinically obvious (such as heart failure)."
Table of Contents
From the content: Betablocking Agents in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Myocardial Infarction.-Heart Failure: Treatment with Beta-Adrenoceptor Antagonists.-Usefulness of Betablockers in Sudden Cardiac Death.-Molecular Organization of the Beta Adrenergic System.-Beta-Blocking Therapy in Patients with Unstable Angina.-Ergometry in the Assessment of Arterial Hypertension and Antihypertensive Therapy