A New Dawn in Cardiovascular Protection II

Friday 30th April - Saturday 1st May 2004

A New Dawn in Cardiovascular Protection II

Athens, Greece

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Compounding the problem is the fact that other risk factors, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, often coexist within individuals. These risk factors initiate a pathological cycle of cardiovascular damage, the cardiovascular continuum, and can culminate in end-stage renal disease, stroke or myocardial infarction. The central role that angiotensin II plays in this pathological cycle has begun to be elucidated in numerous clinical trials of agents that block the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

These agents, such as angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), exert their protective effects both by reducing blood pressure and by disrupting the pathological effects of angiotensin II at the tissue level. Other pharmacological factors can also influence progression along the cardiovascular continuum. Blood pressure variability, particularly the early morning surge in blood pressure, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease independent of average blood pressure. Furthermore, ARBs appear to have pleiotropic effects that may stem from interactions with receptors other than those for angiotensin II. Intensive research will be required to establish the importance of 24-hour blood pressure control and other metabolic effects of ARBs on disease progression.

The present educational activity addresses the relationship between the cardiovascular continuum and RAAS blockade, including the importance of target-organ damage as an indicator for specific therapeutic intervention. Left ventricular hypertrophy, renal damage, and first stroke are example of such target organ damage. The metabolic syndrome is another burgeoning field for clinical inquiry. An international panel of experts reviews recent developments and ongoing trials in these therapeutic areas, and discusses the impact this research is likely to have on clinical practice.

Faculty

Meeting Chairmen

• Victor Dzau - Department of Medicine Brigham Women's Hospital Boston, USA
• Giuseppe Mancia - Department of Clinical Medicine San Gerardo Hospital Monza-Milan, Italy

Session Chairmen

• Björn Dahlöf - Department of Medicine Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg, Sweden
• Toshiro Fujita - Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology The University of Tokyo Tokyo, Japan
• Eberhard Ritz - Department of Nephrology Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany
• Alberto Zanchetti - Centre for Clinical Physiology and Hypertension University of Milan Milan, Italy

Speakers

• Anthony Barnett - Department of Medicine University of Birmingham Birmingham, UK
• Thomas D Giles - Health Sciences Center Louisiana State University New Orleans, USA
• Philippe Gosse - Cardiology Service Hôpital St André Bordeaux, France
• Theodore W Kurtz - Department of Laboratory Medicine University of California at San Francisco San Francisco, USA
• Gordon McInnes - Department of Medicine and Therapeutics Western Infirmary Glasgow, UK
• Gianfranco Parati - The Italian Auxological Institute Scientific Institute San Luc Hospital Milan, Italy Luis Miguel Ruilope Department of Nephrology Hospital 12 de Octubre Madrid, Spain
• Arya Sharma - Department of Medicine McMaster University Ontario, Canada
• Peter Sleight - Cardiovascular Medicine John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford, UK
• Thomas Unger - Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology Humboldt University Berlin, Germany
• Michael A Weber - Office of Scientific Affairs SUNY Downstate College of Medicine New York, USA

Agenda - Friday 30th April 2004

The changing paradigm in the management of hypertensive patients: from blood pressure control to cardiovascular protection

Session 1

• Opening remarks - Victor Dzau, USA
• Lowering blood pressure for cardiovascular risk reduction - Gordon McInnes, UK
• The cardiovascular continuum and RAAS blockade - Victor Dzau, USA
• Assessing the efficacy of antihypertensive treatment: smoothness index, trough-to-peak ratio and early morning rise - Gianfranco Parati, Italy

Session 2

• LVH as a predictor of cardiovascular risk - Philippe Gosse, France
• Relevance of blood pressure variation in the circadian onset of cardiovascular events - Thomas D Giles, USA
• Managing the patient at risk for secondary stroke - Michael A Weber, USA
• Panel Discussion

Agenda - Saturday 1st May 2004

Diabetes and cardiovascular risk: from molecular targets for metabolic control to prevention of end-organ damage

Session 1

• Introduction - Björn Dahlöf, Sweden
• Obesity, hypertension and insulin resistance - Arya Sharma, Canada
• Treating insulin-resistant hypertension and the metabolic syndrome - Theodore W Kurtz, USA

Session 2

• The association of hypertension and Diabetes: prevalence, cardiovascular risk and protection by blood pressure reduction - Giuseppe Mancia, Italy
• Vascular and renal protection In diabetes: a pharmacological view on AT1 receptor antagonism - Thomas Unger, Germany
• RAAS blockade and renal protection: ACE inhibitors or ARBs? - Luis Miguel Ruilope, Spain
• Preventing renal complications in diabetic patients: DETAIL study - Anthony Barnett, UK
• ONTARGET trial programme: baseline data - Peter Sleight, UK
• Panel discussion
• Closing Remarks - Giuseppe Mancia, Italy

To start the webcast "A New Dawn in Cardiovascular Protection II" choose one of the following sessions:

• 30 April 2004 - Session 1
• 30 April 2004 - Session 2
• 1 May 2004 - Session 1
• 1 May 2004 - Session 2

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