French as 2005-recommendations on the management of arterial hypertension
Chamontin, B.; Halimi, J.M.
Archives des Maladies du Coeur et des Vaisseaux 100(1): 42-46
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9683 PMID: 17405553 Document Number: 605318
Self blood pressure measurements (home BP) and/or ambulatory BP measurements are recommended in mild to moderate hypertension (140/90 - 179/109 mmHg) in order to confirm sustained hypertension and identify white coat and masked hypertension. The evaluation of target organ damages (TOD) has to be integrated in cardiovascular risk estimate and taken into account in the management of hypertensive patients. Beside echocardiography, there is a place for the screening of microalbuminuria in non diabetic hypertensive patients, but these investigations should not be performed systematically. Arterial stiffness evaluation and carotid intima-media thickness quantification are not yet recommended. Cardiovascular risk (CV risk) estimate plays a pivotal role in the therapeutic decision and strategy. The cardiovascular risk grade is based on [1] the list of cardiovascular risk factors (same list AFSSAPS recommendations on dyslipidemia), [2] the presence or absence of TOD and [3] cardiovascular complications: "low", "medium", and "high" CV risk. Lifestyle modifications are recommended in all hypertensive patients. Five antihypertensive drugs are recommended for first line therapy: beta-blockers, thiazide diuretics, ACEIs, ARA II and CCBs (and fixed low dose combinations with AFSSAPS agreement for first line). In order to initiate the treatment, Evidence-based therapy (according to clinical trials conducted in different clinical situations), certain comorbid conditions (compelling indications), efficacy and side-effects in a previous experience, and the cost are the determinants of the first choice. Most hypertensive patients require more than one agent to achieve target blood pressure and for second line therapy the recommended combinations are: betablockers-diuretics, ACEIs-diuretics, ARAII-diuretics, betablockers-CCBs (DHP), ACEIs-CCBs, ARA II-CCBs and CCBs-diuretics. The delay to establish a combination therapy depend on CV risk. The BP goals are those recommended by ESH-ESC 2003: BP<140/90 mmHg in all, BP<130/80 mmHg in diabetic patients and in patients with chronic renal failure. Beside lowering BP, the reduction in proteinuria <500 mg/24 h is a new goal in these high risk patients. These guidelines provide a tool for every day practice and applicability should be evaluated.