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№1' 2018
CARDIOLOGYInternational Medical Journal, Vol. 24., Iss. 1, 2018, P. 11−15.
CAPABILITIES OF PHARMACOTHERAPY FOR VASCULAR RIGIDITY IN PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR PATHOLOGY
Pensa State University, Medical Institute, Russian Federation
Vessels are one of the main target organs affected by cardiovascular pathology. The definition of vascular age and, first of all, primary and/or secondary structural and functional changes affecting all of blood vessels is one of the main tasks of modern cardiology. It has been found that the large and medium vessels are more often affected. The following mechanisms of atherosclerosis development can be distinguished: genetic factors, dyslipidemia, risk factors that affect the vascular wall, and disorders of the receptor apparatus. The changes in the diameter of the vessel depend on the functional state of the endothelium; its dysfunction is a marker of the early stage of cardiovascular disease. Inflammation in the vascular wall, thickening of the intima and hypoxia lead to formation of an atherosclerotic plaque. The main group of drugs for treatment of dyslipidemia is statins, their efficacy has been proven in a number of large randomized studies. As a result of studying the role of the renin−angiotensin−aldosterone system in development of atherosclerosis, drugs affecting this mechanism, sartans, have been created. In addition to influencing the level of arterial pressure, they are able to change the structural and functional properties of various vessels. Monitoring of arterial stiffness against a background of pharmacotherapy is an essential component in the observation of the patients. Reduction of the pulse wave propagation rate and improvement of rigidity parameters testify to the favorable effect of therapy on the processes of vascular aging and prognosis of the disease, which is especially important in terms of the desire to achieve population results in reducing mortality from cardiovascular diseases.
Key words: arterial stiffness, atherosclerosis, statins, angiotensin II receptor blockers.