The new issue of Postępy Nauk Medycznych (Progress in Medical Sciences) is devoted to discussing selected problems concerning epidemiology, pathogenesis and treatment of hypertension.

Docent T. Zdrojewski presents in his article the results of extensive epidemiological studies carried out over the last decade in Poland. They revealed the social dimension of the disease; it is worrying that only two thirds of those suffering from hypertension are aware of the disease and only one in eight are treated effectively. This reflects a disparity between the possibilities of modern therapy and effects of hypertension treatment at the population level. Also it is important that in 30% of Poles high-normal blood pressure (prehypertension) was found. It is worth stressing here the significance of the implemented epidemiological studies because they may play an important role in shaping the direction of the health policy in Poland.

Prof. F. Kokot and Docent L. Hyla-Klekot broadly discuss newly understood mechanisms of renal regulation of water-electrolyte metabolism and blood pressure. They stress the significance of the functional relation of the kidney to other organs. The significance of broadly understood nephrology in the development of medicine was accepted.

Dynamic development of molecular biology techniques have enabled great progress in the studies aiming at explaining the genetic basis of hypertension. It is worth mentioning here the studies on pharmacogenetics that may enable the choice of an appropriate antihypertensive drug based on the “genetic profile”. Prof. A. Ciechanowicz and Prof. S. Czekalski broadly discuss the achievements within studies on the genetic basis of hypertension.

There has been great interest in the dependence between low birth weight and the development of hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, obesity and diabetes mellitus type 2 in later stages of life. The programming of hypertension during fetal life sheds new light on the pathogenesis of hypertension.

Dr. G. Piecha and Prof. A. Więcek discuss the results of experimental and clinical studies devoted to this issue; among other things the significance of the influence of unfavourable environmental factors on fetal development is stressed. According to the authors it is necessary to pay more attention to the factors that may potentially occur during fetal life; this may play an important role in prevention of hypertension.