Current status and prospects for arterial hypertension research in the Soviet Union

Research on arterial hypertension is being conducted in the Soviet Union under a program organized by the National Cardiology Research Center. Four program directions are included: (a) basic research on the pathophysiologic mechanisms in the development of hypertension, including vascular wall viscosity and elasticity, associated regulatory mechanisms, and molecular and cellular mechanisms of vascular tone; (b) clinical research on the pathophysiology of hypertension and the mechanisms responsible for the course and prognosis of the disease, including biobehavioral and psychological aspects and the effects of sodium kinetics and a sodium-limiting diet; (c) approaches to treatment, both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic; and (d) population studies of children, adolescents, and adults.