Srp Ark Celok Lek
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The number of old persons (over 65 years) with arterial hypertension is in a steady increase [1]. Such finding is mainly related to patients with isolated systolic hypertension. They present more than 60% of old persons with arterial hypertension [2]. Isolated systolic hypertension can be defined as increased systolic blood pressure to the value more than 160 mmHg and diastolic pressure to 90-95 mmHg [4, 5]. It has been suggested that the pathologic basis of this entity is in a decreased distensibility of aorta and great arteries. In patients with isolated systolic hypertension we studied the correlation between decreased aortic distensibility and systolic arterial blood pressure value. We also evaluated changes in the left ventricular structure and function during this type of hypertension. ⋯ In old persons with isolated systolic hypertension we found that aortic distensibility was significantly lower in comparison to normotensive subjects of the same age. Such finding supports the hypothesis that the reduced aortic distensibility is the cause of isolated systolic hypertension. At the same time, we found the inversed correlation between aortic distensibility and the mean systolic blood pressure value. Aging has an effect on reduction of aortic and great vessels distensibility. Thus, it causes arterial hypertension which changes the elastic properties of aorta. It is still questionable in which degree the systolic blood pressure value compromises the elastic properties of aorta. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)
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Hereditary thrombophilia is caused by various inherited disorders which lead to familial tendency to recurrent venous thrombosis usually at an early age and with spontaneous onset. In the studies reported so far, the different prevalence of hereditary thrombophilia among patients with venous thrombosis was found, greatly depending on criteria for selection of patients. Arterial thrombosis is most often the consequence of arteriosclerosis but the prevalence of hereditary thrombophilia among young patients with arterial thrombosis and without recognized risk factors for arteriosclerosis is not known . In this study, the frequency of hereditary deficiencies of antithrombin III (AT III), protein C (PC), protein S (PS), plasminogen (PLMG), factor XII (F XII) and dysfibrinogenaemia was investigated over a 2-year period in 121 patients with venous or arterial thrombosis selected according to the recommendations of the British Committee for Standards in Haematology. ⋯ The prevalence of hereditary thrombophilia in nonselected patients with venous thrombosis is relatively low, and for that reason the selection of patients, according recommended criteria, in whom the screening tests for congenital thrombophilia should be performed, is strongly suggested by many authors. In our study we used the generally accepted recommendations for investigation of patients with venous and arterial thrombosis. The presence of congenital thrombophilia was found in 15 (12.4%) of 121 studied patients, what is in accordance with results of other similarly designed studies. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)