[Insulin resistance: its clinical importance and trends in modern research]

Insulin resistance is the major pathogenetic link of atherosclerosis development and progression. The clinical diagnosis is made on the basis of analysis of glycemic and insulinemic response during the oral glucose tolerance test. Insulin resistance prevalence is constant in NIDDM and advanced renal failure, and almost 50% in early stages of essential hypertension and kidney diseases. Its prevention and therapy are effective. The increase of free Ca and decrease of free Mg concentrations participate both in insulin resistance and hemodynamic changes in diseases of the Reaven's syndrome. The intracellular mineral dysbalance is caused by the alteration of Na+,H(+)-antiporter. (Fig. 1, Tab. 4, Ref. 51.).