[Self blood pressure monitoring versus 24 blood pressure monitors: what is preferred when?].
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Publications and source records attributed to P Baumgart.
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OBJECTIVE: To delineate more precisely an operational threshold for making clinical decisions based on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) measurement by studying the ABP in subjects who were diagnosed as either normotensive or hypertensive by conventional blood pressure (CBP) measurement. SUBJECTS: Twenty-four research groups recruited 7069 subjects. Of these, 4577 were normotensive (systolic CBP < or = 140 mmHg and diastolic CBP < or = 90 mmHg) and 1773 were hypertensive (systolic CBP > or = 160 mmHg and/or diastolic CBP > or = 90 mmHg). Of the latter, 1324 had systolic and 1310 had diastolic hypertension. RESULTS: Ninety-five percent of the normotensive subjects had a 24-h ABP below (systolic and diastolic, respectively) 133 and 82 mmHg. Of the patients with systolic hypertension, 24% had a 24-h systolic ABP of < 133 mmHg. Similarly, 30% of those with diastolic hypertension had a 24-h diastolic ABP of < 82 mmHg. The probability that hypertensive patients had a 24-h ABP below these thresholds was higher in women than in men, increased with age and was 2- to 4-fold greater if the CBP of the patient had been measured at only one visit and if fewer than 3 CBP measurements had been averaged to establish the diagnosis of hypertension. By contrast, for each 10-mmHg increment in systolic CBP, this probability decreased by 54% for the 24-h systolic ABP and by 25% for the 24-h diastolic ABP, and for each 5 mmHg increment in diastolic CBP it increased by 6 and 9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ABP distributions of the normotensive subjects included in the present international database were not materially different from those in previous reports in the literature. One-fifth to more than one-third of the hypertensive patients had an ABP which was below the 95th centile of the ABP in normotensive subjects, but this proportion decreased if the hypertensive patients had shown a higher CBP upon repeated measurement. The prognostic implications of elevated CBP in the presence of normal ABP remain to be determined.
OBJECTIVE: To delineate more precisely an operational threshold for making clinical decisions based on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) measurement by studying the ABP in subjects who were diagnosed as either normotensive or hypertensive by conventional blood pressure (CBP) measurement. SUBJECTS: Twenty-four research groups recruited 7069 subjects. Of these, 4577 were normotensive (CBP < or = 140/90 mmHg), 719 were borderline hypertensive (systolic CBP 141-159 mmHg or diastolic CBP 91-94 mmHg) and 1773 were definitely hypertensive. Of the subjects in the last of these categories, 1324 had systolic hypertension (systolic CBP > or = 160 mmHg) and 1310 had diastolic hypertension (diastolic CBP > or = 95 mmHg). Combined systolic and diastolic hypertension was present in 861 subjects. Hypertension had been diagnosed from the mean of two to nine (median two) CBP measurements obtained at one to three (median two) visits. RESULTS: The 95th centiles of the ABP distributions in the normotensive subjects were (systolic and diastolic, respectively) 133 and 82 mmHg for 24-h ABP, 140 and 88 mmHg for daytime ABP and 125 and 76 mmHg for night-time ABP, respectively. Of the subjects with systolic hypertension, 24% had 24-h systolic ABP < 133 mmHg. Similarly, 30% of those with diastolic hypertension had 24-h diastolic ABP < 82 mmHg. The probability that hypertensive subjects had 24-h ABP below these thresholds tended to increase with age and was two- to fourfold greater if the CBP of the subject had been measured at only one visit and if fewer than three CBP measurements had been averaged for establishing the diagnosis of hypertension. By contrast, for each 10-mmHg increment in systolic CBP, this probability decreased by 54% for 24-h systolic ABP and by 26% for 24-h diastolic ABP, and for each 5-mmHg increment in diastolic CBP it decreased by 6 and 9%, respectively. In comparison with 24-h ABP, the overlap in the daytime and night-time ABP between normotensive and hypertensive subjects was of similar magnitude and was influenced by the same factors. CONCLUSIONS: The ABP distributions of the normotensive subjects included in the present international database were not materially different from those in previous reports in the literature. One-fifth to more than one-third of hypertensive subjects had an ABP which was below the 95th centile of the ABP of normotensive subjects, but this proportion decreased if the hypertensive subjects had shown a higher CBP upon repeated measurement. The prognostic implications of elevated CBP in the presence of normal ABP remain to be determined.
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There are a number of clinically relevant differences between torasemide and the thiazide diuretics in the treatment of hypertension. Only 2.5-5 mg torasemide once daily is sufficient for antihypertensive treatment; these low doses of torasemide exert comparable antihypertensive effects to those of the overtly natriuretic doses of thiazides (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg) that are currently used once daily for the treatment of hypertension. Whereas natriuretic thiazide doses reduce blood pressure rapidly, the blood pressure-lowering effect of low-dose torasemide appears to occur more gradually during the first weeks of treatment. The diurnal blood pressure rhythm is not altered by either drug. In contrast to the thiazides, torasemide does not cause significant renal potassium loss in doses recommended to treat hypertension. Long-term antihypertensive treatment with torasemide has not resulted in undesired metabolic side effects, such as hypomagnesemia, alterations in glucose and lipid metabolism, or hyperuricemia. As compared with the thiazides, torasemide appears to be a safer and equally effective alternative for antihypertensive treatment when subdiuretic doses of this loop diuretic are used.
To assess the influence of long-term hemodialysis on arterial compliance, the elastic vessel wall properties of the common carotid artery were determined in 20 normotensive renal transplant recipients (age 44.7 +/- 4.1 years) 8-12 weeks after first transplantation and in 10 healthy controls (age 45.9 +/- 5.2 years). Arterial distension was measured by using a multigate pulsed Doppler system, blood pressure curve was recorded by finger-plethysmography. 10 patients with a prior long-term hemodialysis of 51 +/- 11 months were compared to 10 patients with a prior short hemodialysis of 18 +/- 7 months. The patients and controls had been matched in respect of age, sex and blood pressure. In the long and short-term hemodialysis group, the proportion of patients (n = 10) with a history of mild hypertension was similar--mild hypertension for 25 +/- 10 months (n = 5) and for 27 +/- 9 months (n = 5). In the group with long-term hemodialysis, the cross-sectional compliance and the distensibility coefficient was significantly reduced in comparison to the group with short-term hemodialysis (p < 0.005) and to the control group (p < 0.001). A significant inverse correlation between the hemodialysis period and the distensibility coefficient (r = -0.59; p < 0.005) showed a decrease in arterial compliance with the length of hemodialysis treatment. The results demonstrate that vessel wall elasticity decreases with the length of hemodialysis treatment and is reduced by hemodialysis-dependent factors, which are detached from sustained arterial hypertension. As cause of reduced arterial compliance in long-term hemodialysis hypervolemia, hypercirculation and disturbed calcium-phosphate metabolism is suggested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Data from ten cases with carcinoma of the adrenal cortex, diagnosed between 1981 and 1988, have been extensively reevaluated. Six patients suffered from a hormonally active tumor with proven clinical and laboratory signs of hypercortisolism and/or hyperandrogenism. Female patients dominated the cohort (eight of ten). No preference for particular age (35 to 64, mean 52) or lateralisation of the tumor was recognisable. In all cases signs for endocrinopathy and/or tumor disease lead to investigative intervention. Nonspecific symptoms like pain, reduction of weight and fatigue were registered most frequently. In three patients an abdominal tumor was palpable. Investigation of hormone levels and imaging procedures (sonography and CT scan) assured correct diagnosis in all cases. Since prior to operation metastases have been detected in five cases and in eight cases capsular invasion was proven histologically only, one patient was free of tumor after operation but developed hepatic metastases later on. Altogether nine of ten patients developed metastases later on. Seven of the patients died from the perioperative period up to 8.4 +/- 8.15 months. Mean survival of all patients was 20.5 +/- 24.5 months. Histological grading and assessment of anaplasia did not correlate with either survival or tumor stage. None of the patients presented with tumor stage I according to the TNM system by MacFarlane (55). All four patients with advanced disease in stage IV died within the first year after operation. Eight patients were treated with 1 to 6 g of the adrenolytic o,p'DDD (mitotane, Lysodren). In one of these cases, a sonographically documented remission lasting for over eight years was observed. A second patient with anaplastic carcinoma showed a reduction of the size of pulmonary metastases under continuous therapy with o,p'DDD and a cyclic polychemotherapy. After the latter was discontinued, the course was progressive.
Cortical necrosis is a rare complication of renal transplants, which requires urgent diagnosis and management to avoid unnecessary immunosuppression. Seven renal transplants with suspected cortical necrosis were evaluated by Doppler-US, 99mTc-DTPA-perfusion study and Gd-DTPA-enhanced dynamic MRI. In four transplants, cortical necrosis was confirmed by angiography and histology. In diagnosing cortical necrosis with preserved medullary perfusion (n = 2) dynamic MRI was superior to the other modalities. Totally necrotic renal transplants (n = 2) were reliably diagnosed by all imaging methods.
In 1039 ambulatory blood pressure (BP) recordings, we studied if mean values or blood-pressure load (% of elevated readings) is superior for evaluation. There was a nonlinear correlation between the two parameters with high correlation coefficients (syst. r = 0.98, diast. r = 0.97). At very high (low) BP levels the differentiation of the percentage-scale is insufficient, whereas in the central BP range it is too detailed as compared with the accuracy and reproducibility. Due to the nonlinear correlation with BP, treatment effects cannot be easily compared by percentage-values, since identical BP differences correspond with varying percentage. Intervals between readings are usually shorter during daytime than during nighttime. In contrast to the BP load, the resulting problems for 24-h statistics can be easily avoided by calculation of weighted mean values (from hourly means). In summary, weighted mean values are rather suited for evaluation of ambulatory blood pressure than is BP load.
Diurnal blood pressure variation was studied by ambulatory 24-hour monitoring in patients with advanced chronic renal failure (n = 20), on chronic hemodialysis (n = 20), after renal transplantation (n = 21) and in matched control groups without renal disease. Nocturnal blood pressure reductions were significantly blunted in all patient groups as compared with the respective control groups. In almost none of the 61 controls did the mean values during nighttime (8 p.m.-8 a.m.) exceed the mean day time values (8 a.m.-8 p.m.). In 10 of the 61 renal patients blood pressure was higher during the night. In patients with chronic renal disease nocturnal blood pressure elevation may be diagnosed by ambulatory 24-hour monitoring. This may require adaptation of antihypertensive treatment.
Diurnal blood pressure (BP) fluctuations are superimposed by a 24-h rhythm with usually lower levels during the night and higher levels during the day. In contrast to other rhythmic bioparameters, the diurnal BP rhythm is largely dependent on activity and sleep rather than on clock time. This has been demonstrated by the BP characteristics after shifted sleeping and working phases, during transition from sleep to wakefulness, and by the influence of sleep and activities on the 24-h BP curve during normal daily routines. Whereas the circadian rhythm of BP is predominantly governed by external time triggers, endogenous rhythmicity can only be detected by time microscopic analysis or in conditions where effects of external time triggers are almost excluded.
Various parameters can be evaluated in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: mean values, percentages of elevated readings, highest and lowest single values, variability, and rhythm. In most parameters only distributions (mean, standard deviation, percentiles) of the results were investigated in selected (usually normotensive or hypertensive) samples. Attempts to define limits of normalcy were predominantly focused on mean values. For the mean values during daytime the equivalent levels of office blood-pressure readings were now defined. This provides evaluation of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in terms of the established office blood-pressure scale. For mean daytime values, the limits of normalcy (corresponding to 140/90 mmHg office-BP) are about 135/85 mmHg. Clearly, hypertensive mean values (corresponding to 160/95 mmHg office BP) are 146/87 mmHg. These limits of blood pressure mean values during daytime may be considered for therapeutic decisions.
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In 1039 subjects ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed to define threshold values, which are equivalent to the established limits of the office blood pressure. Mean values and proportions of elevated single readings were correlated to office blood pressure by regression analyses. To avoid impact of varying sleeping periods on 24 h blood pressure, only daytime readings were considered. Correlations between average daytime blood pressure and office blood pressure were linear: Mean daytime values of 135 mmHg (systolic) and of 84 mmHg (diastolic) were equivalent to the casual blood pressure limits of 140 mmHg and 90 mmHg. Correlations between percentages of elevated single readings and office blood pressure were nonlinear: Proportions of 25% systolic readings greater than 140 mmHg and of 17% diastolic readings greater than 90 mmHg were equivalent to casual blood pressure limits of 140 mmHg and 90 mmHg. On the basis of the regression equations, any result of ambulatory blood pressure recording during daytime can now be evaluated in terms of the established standards of office blood pressure.
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Bronchoalveolar lavage was used in 170 immunocompromised patients for detection of causative agents. Pneumocystis carinii was isolated 18 times from HIV-positive patients and 14 times from patients suffering from immunodeficiencies due to various other diseases. Patients with AIDS were in better clinical condition, had fewer infiltrates on chest x-ray, a higher oxygen partial pressure and lower LDH-plasma concentration than HIV-negative patients. In spite of the earlier stage of the disease patients with AIDS experience prodromal symptoms for a longer time and the number of isolated pneumocystis was larger. Mortality in AIDS patients was significantly lower than in patients with other causes of immunodeficiency.
In 62 untreated hypertensives (31 men, 31 women; median age 40 [17-57] years) blood pressures (BP) were measured in the doctor's office, at home (self-measured) and every 15 min during 24-hour monitoring (by portable automated oscillometry), the results being compared with echocardiographic measurements of ventricular septal thickness (VST), left ventricular muscle mass (LVM) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI), in 41 of them also during and 5 min after 100 W bicycle ergometry. In the total cohort, 24-hour values correlated better with diastolic VST (systolic: r = 0.706, P less than 0.00001; diastolic: r = 0.507, P less than 0.0001) than office BP (systolic: r = 0.381, P less than 0.01; diastolic: r = 0.177, not significant) and home BP (systolic: r = 0.477, P less than 0.0001; diastolic: r = 0.371, P less than 0.05). In the 41 exercised hypertensives the correlation with echocardiographic values was less close than with their 24-hour BP, but slightly better than with office and home BP. Systolic BP correlated better than diastolic BP with echocardiographic values. VST generally correlated better with BP than LVM and LVMI. It is concluded that (1) 24-hour BP values correlate more closely with LVM than any other noninvasive BP measurement; (2) VST is affected more by systolic than diastolic BP; and (3) VST more specifically reflects the influence of BP on myocardial structure than does LVM and LVMI.
Bronchoscopy was performed on 101 immunocompromised patients with fever and pulmonary infiltrates. Underlying diseases were mainly hematological malignancies. In 71% of cases, etiology of pneumonia was clarified by nonbioptic bronchoscopic methods (bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial secretions, protected specimen brush). In 51% of cases, empirical antibiotic treatment was modified following bronchoscopy. In patients with early bronchoscopy a better prognosis regarding healing and survival was observed than in those cases, where bronchoscopy was performed later during pneumonia. Bronchoalveolar lavage was particularly suited for diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii and pneumonia due to viruses or Legionella. Sensitivity and specificity of bronchoscopy were lower for diagnosis of mycotic pneumonia and of Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria.