Pchanges in vascular stiffness indicators in patients with refractory arterial hypertension

In recent years, a great attention has been given to studying the indicators of vascular stiffness as factors affecting complication rates and prognosis in patients with arterial hypertension. Patients with arterial hypertension refractory to hypotensive therapy have very high risk of organspecific complications. The aim of the study was to perform comparative analysis of the vascular stiffness indicators in patients with controlled and refractory arterial hypertension. The study included a total of 33 patients: 15 patients with stage 2 arterial hypertension in whom normal values of arterial pressure were achieved (group 1) and 18 patients with stage 2 arterial hypertension resistant to hypotensive therapy (group 2). All patients received 24hour arterial blood pressure monitoring, carotid Doppler ultrasound, and examination of vascular stiffness. Myocardial mass index was significantly higher in group 2. The degree of severity of carotid artery atherosclerosis did not significantly differ between the groups (18.57±14.33 vs. 12.31±10.20; p=0.17). Twenty fourhour arterial blood pressure monitoring showed that patients of group 2 had systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure of 157.57±16.68 and 97±13.81 mm Hg, respectively. Patients of group 1 had significantly lower values of blood pressure: 128.64±8.71 and 77.21±9.45 mm Hg (p