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[Hypertension: early detection of target organ damage]

Abigael Heim1, Antoine Pasche, François Feihl

  • 1Division de physiopathologie, Département de médecine, CHUV et Université de Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne. Abigael.Heim@chuv.ch

Revue Medicale Suisse
|October 25, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Early detection of target organ damage is crucial for hypertensive patients. Screening for conditions like chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular issues aids in risk assessment and management.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Vascular Medicine

Context:

  • Hypertension management requires early identification of target organ damage to assess cardiovascular risk.
  • Current clinical practice emphasizes screening for cardiac and vascular complications in hypertensive individuals.
  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is prevalent in hypertensive patients, particularly those over 55.

Purpose:

  • To highlight the importance of early detection of target organ damage in hypertensive patients.
  • To outline non-invasive methods for screening cardiovascular and vascular complications.
  • To emphasize the significance of screening for chronic kidney disease and microalbuminuria.

Summary:

  • Electrocardiography and echocardiography screen for left ventricular hypertrophy and ischemic heart disease.
  • Non-invasive ultrasonography, pulse wave velocity, and ankle-arm index assess atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis.
  • Microalbuminuria serves as a marker for renal damage and a strong indicator of cardiovascular risk.

Impact:

  • Facilitates comprehensive cardiovascular risk profiling in hypertensive patients.
  • Enables timely intervention for organ damage, potentially preventing severe complications.
  • Integrates renal health assessment into cardiovascular risk management strategies.

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