[The treatment of metabolic syndrome]

The metabolic syndrome is a common syndrome affecting 20%-25% of the population whose features include abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance, renal dysfunction and microalbuminuria. All these components of the syndrome are known cardiovascular risk factors. There is also clear evidence that the presence of metabolic syndrome presents an increased risk of development of diabetes. Therefore, the treatment of metabolic syndrome should be of great importance for preventing the complications. The pharmacological treatment of metabolic syndrome includes the use of several groups of drugs such as antihypertensives, oral antidiabetics, insulin, statins/fibrates as well as anti-obesity drugs.