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Biomedical subjects

D G Beevers

Publications and source records attributed to D G Beevers.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources

Blood-lead and hypertension.

Blood and tap-water lead levels were examined in 135 hypertensives and 135 age and sex matched normotensives. Among male hypertensives there was a significant excess of cases with high blood-lead levels and a similar but statistically non-significant trend was found amongst female hypertensives. A positive correlation was found between blood-lead and tap-water lead. It is concluded that in the West of Scotland high blood-pressure is associated with high blood-lead levels, which might explain the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the area.

Blood Pressure↗

Effectiveness of screening for hypertension in Scotland.

1. Data from long-term follow-up of subjects screened for hypertension indicate that the elevation of blood pressure represents a major contribution to community-attributable risk of death. 2. Attendance rates at screening, and drop-out rates from follow-up, have been assessed in studies in Glasgow. 3. Screening and follow-up are probably best conducted from general practice, and should be regarded as an extension of good primary care.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

A blood pressure clinic in a health centre.

Following a screening survey for hypertension in Renfrew, a blood pressure clinic was established in a health centre. Three hospital doctors, each working an average of two sessions weekly, saw 368 patients. A specially trained nurse played an important part in the running of the clinic. Attendance of patients was high, and defaulting amongst those needing treatment was low. Blood pressures were well controlled in 75% of the patients. The clinic has proved an acceptable method of managing large numbers of hypertensives without reference to hospital.

Community Health Centers↗

Renal abnormalities and vascular complications in primary hyperaldosteronism. Evidence on tertiary hyperaldosteronism.

The frequency of underlying renal or renal artery disease, and the incidence of vascular complications were reviewed in a series of 136 cases of primary hyperaldosteronism. This was in order to investigate the possible existence of 'tertiary' hyperaldosteronism, and to examine the commonly held view that primary hyperaldosteronism is a relatively benign form of hypertension. Ten cases (7-4 per cent) had evidence of renal artery stenosis and eleven (8-1 per cent) parenchymatous renal disease. In comparison with the reported frequency in large general series of hypertensives, these data show no evidence of an excess of underlying renal disease. It is unlikely, therefore, that autonomous aldosterone secreting adenomata occur commonly as a consequence of prolonged secondary hyperaldosteronism. Four cases (2-9 per cent) had evidence of the malignant-phase of hypertension, and over a mean observation time of 5-9 years, 31 cases (22-8 per cent) developed 39 vascular complications. It appears, therefore, that vascular complications are not rare in primary hyperaldosteronism, and early and effective treatment is thus necessary.

Adenoma↗

Is low-renin hypertension a stage in the development of essential hypertension or a diagnostic entity?

A study of the frequency distribution of plasma-renin concentration in 81 patients with essential hypertension produced no evidence of a distinct sub-population with low renin levels. An arbitrary dividing line was used, therefore, to define low-renin hypertension (36% of patinets). Patients in this group were older than those with normal renin levels, and there was a significant negative correlation between renin and age among all patients. Low-renin hypertension was not characterized by increased exchangeable sodium, but exchaneable postassium was significantly lower than in patients with normal plasma-renin. This difference became insignificant when five patients in the low-renin group with persistent hypokalaemia were excluded. It is concluded that low-renin hypertension does not represent a separate diagnostic entity but that plasma-renin falls with age in essential hypertension.

Adult↗

Rectal potential difference in the diagnosis of aldosterone excess.

Rectal potential difference (pd) is directly related to the plasma aldosterone concentration, and rises when aldosterone is stimulated by sodium deprivation. However, when the measurement of rectal pd was tested at a screening test for hyperaldosteronism in 19 hypertensive subjects, four of the eight with primary hyperaldosteronism had a normal pd and four of the eight without aldosterone excess had an abnormally raised potential difference. The technique cannot therefore be recommended as a routine screening test for hyperaldosteronism. No relationship was found between rectal pd and hypertension associated with excess of deoxycorticosterone. Rectal pd rises in response to the mineralocorticoid-like agent carbenoxolone.

Adult↗

Blood pressure in a Scottish town.

As part of a general health screening survey in the Burgh of Renfrew blood pressure was measured in 3,001 subjects (78.8% of those eligible) aged 45 to 64. In 468 (15.6%) diastolic blood pressure was 100 mm Hg or more. A year later the mean blood pressure for those of the population re-examined showed no change, there being an equal number of subjects with increased and decreased pressures. The prognostic significance of those showing the larger fluctuations remains to be determined through medical-record linkage.Examination of the general practitioners' medical records of 422 of the 468 subjects with diastolic blood pressure of 100 mm Hg or more showed that 255 had no previous documented hypertension. Of the remainder 73 were receiving antihypertensive therapy. Examination of the records of subjects whose blood pressure was under 100 mm Hg showed that 55 were receiving antihypertensive treatment and that another 113 had previously been recorded as having a diastolic blood pressure of 100 mm Hg or more by their general practitioner. Altogether at least 636 (21.2%) of those who were examined had been considered at some time to have evidence of hypertension.The prevalence of undetected hypertension in the general population has important implications for the resources of the National Health Service if current trials show benefit to the health of the community from treating "mild" as well as "moderate" hypertension.

Blood Glucose↗