[Affective temperaments (cyclothymic, hypertymic, depressive, anxious, irritable) are stable parts of personality and after adolescent only their minor changes are detectable. Their connections with psychopathology is well-described; depressive temperament plays role in major depression, cyclothymic temperament in bipolar II disorder, while hyperthymic temperament in bipolar I disorder. Moreover, scientific data of the last decade suggest, that affective temperaments are also associated with somatic diseases. Cyclothymic temperament is supposed to have the closest connection with hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is higher parallel with the presence of dominant cyclothymic affective temperament and in this condition the frequency of cardiovascular complications in hypertensive patients was also described to be higher. In chronic hypertensive patients cyclothymic temperament score is positively associated with systolic blood pressure and in women with the earlier development of hypertension. The background of these associations is probably based on the more prevalent presence of common risk factors (smoking, obesity, alcoholism) with more pronounced cyclothymic temperament. The scientific importance of the research of the associations of personality traits including affective temperaments with somatic disorders can help in the identification of higher risk patient subgroups.]

[In 60-70% of patients with hypertension, a significant decrease in blood pressure can only be achieved by a combination of antihypertensive drugs. International as well as national guidelines emphasise the numerous advantages and the importance of combination treatment. Fixed combinations are particularly advantageous, as their use improves patients’ compliance. This paper summarises the available information on the possible combinations of the nine major antihypertensive drug groups distributed in Hungary, and for details the results published on the recently approved and introduced fixed combination of telmisartan and amlodipine.]

[The importance of hypertension in type 2 diabetes mellitus, the method of continuous blood pressure control and patient’s careas well as the forms of non-drug and drug therapy have been disclosed by presenting therapeutical recommendations from American, European scientific societies and international organizations. It has been established that the principles of care and treatment of hypertonia have basically remained unchanged in diabetes all over the world, despite the recent widespread debate over the interpretation of normal blood pressure and the consideration of the benefits of intensive or standard treatment.]

[Early clinical studies proved that most hypertensive patients (>70%) need drug combinations to reach the target blood pressure. We should combine two or three - sometimes more - drugs from different antihypertensive classes for quicker normalisation of blood pressure and to reduce incidence and severity of hypertensive complications. Several international and Hungarian (MHT 2015) guidelines emphasize the advantages of fix combinations against free combinations. Most frequently used combinations contain ACEi + calcium antagonist, or ACEi + diuretic. From them I will focus on the perindopril + amlodipine or perindopril + indapamide combinations. If we do not reach target blood pressure, triple fix combinations (e.g. perindopril + amlodipine + indapamide) can also be used. Now there are fix combinations of different strengths, therefore we may start the therapy with these fix combinations according to patients’ characteristics (e.g. age, complications, concomitant diseases).]

[The most important features of the new European joint hypertension guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and European Society of Cardiology (ESC) became available aslectures at the ESH meeting in Barcelona, in 2018 June, while the publication came out in the Journal of Hypertension and also in the European Heart Journal in August, 2018. Based on the published new guidelines I summarise the most important changes concerning cardiovascular risks and target blood pressures.]