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Prospective monitoring of fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarctions and strokes was carried out in a population of workers with professional exposure to vibration. Duration of monitoring was 15 years. In the end of this period implementation of a program of preventive intervention was associated with lowering of rates of cerebral and coronary events (3.0 vs. 5.2% among nonparticipants in this program). In 5 years after cessation of the program an increase of risk of cardiovascular complications especially that of strokes occurred. Changes of rates of events in a group of workers not subjected to special intervention were less pronounced. Negative dynamics of event rates in the group of active prevention could be attributed to continuing action of unfavorable occupational factor.

Low-frequency magnetic fields and EHF-therapy have been used in correction of autonomic homeostasis in workers exposed to vibration for different periods of time. The workers suffered from early arterial hypertension. Vegetative status and central hemodynamics improved best in workers exposed to vibration for less than 5 years. If the exposure was 6-15 years, a positive trend occurred in the tension of regulatory mechanisms. Workers with long exposure to vibration suffering from vagotonia showed an inadequate response of the autonomic parameters to treatment. This necessitates enhancement of therapeutic measures with medicines.

The authors present results concerning use of low-frequency magnetic fields and HF-therapy for correction of vegetative homeostasis in workers with variable length of service, exposed to vibration, having early forms of arterial hypertension. The most positive changes of vegetative status and central hemodynamics are seen in workers with low length of service.

The authors studied morphologic and constitutional features in individuals with various durability to vibration. Patients fragile to vibration were pectoral and indefinite somatotypes with connective tissue dysplasia and small congenital abnormalities (spondylodysplasia, venous wall deficiency. "dysplastic" heart signs and others). Patients durable to vibration were muscular and abdominal somatotypes with rare connective tissue dysplasia and small congenital abnormalities (2.5-10.2% of cases). Evaluation of morphologic and constitutional characteristics is recommended in preliminary and periodic medical examinations of workers subjected to vibration, for assessment of individual risk degree and differential medical follow-up.

Established was the rate of interventricular septum asymmetrical hypertrophy and left auricle exstasia in vibration disease patients as a result of local vibration. The left ventricle myocardium contraction in major parameters (ventricular ejection, maximum ejection, ejection time and volume, the myocardium circular contraction rate and anterior-posterior contraction, systolic ejection rate) were not affected to a significant degree. The left ventricular systolic function was tending to decrease in vibration disease cases combined with IHD and AH. Desirability of using EchoCG in combination with load testing was proposed for the differential diagnosis of metabolic coronary lesions of the myocardium in vibration disease patients.

Examination results of corinphar efficacy in the treatment of 25 patients with vibration disease caused by local vibration of mean- and high-frequency range were described. The daily dose of corinphar was 30 mg, the course of treatment lasted 17-21 days. Positive effect was noted in 23 patients. During the treatment course peripheric hemodynamics, microhemocirculation and transcapillary metabolism improved, intensity of lipid peroxidation reactions decreased because of vasodilating, desaggregate and antioxidant impact of the preparation.

A complex assessment of the RASC system in patients with vibration disease of different stages of severity is presented. Early disorders of the thrombocytovascular chain of hemostasis have been established at the initial stage of the disease. When pathologic process grows worse, disorders of the coagulation chain are identified. Proceeding from the above studies it is shown that changes in the aggregate blood state are significant for microangiopathy pathogenesis in patients with vibration disease. Expediency of the use of antithrombocytic and vasoprotective preparations in complex treatment has been substantiated.

The studies of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defence, structure and functions of erythrocytes in iron deficiency of painters revealed severe changes in the cells' chemiluminescence, sulfhydryl and catalase activities, levels of free cholesterol, lipoproteins, hystidine and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, saponin resistance and viscosity of erythrocytes. The changes appeared to depend on duration of exposure to the toxic chemicals. The data presents additional markers of toxic influence on erythrocytes in developing iron deficiency of painters.

A study was made of the blood and tissue oxygen regime in patients with vibratory disease (VD) induced by local vibration and of the importance of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in oxygenation disorders. Venous hyperoxia, a decrease of the arteriovenous difference according to oxygen, the percentage of oxygen utilization by tissues, shift of the acid-base balance towards metabolic acidosis were established, attesting to tissue hypoxia that increased with the gravity of VD. The importance of a steady activation of LPO and depression of the antioxidant system in the pathogenesis of hypoxia associated with VD was supported by the correlation analysis data on oxygen balance and LPO, the functional and metabolic characteristics of red blood cells (according to the viscosity of red blood cell suspension and the content in the cells of SH-groups, lipoproteins and histidine) and platelets (according to aggregation in response to ADP and thrombin) as well as by the level of blood serum fluorescence. The authors provide evidence for the use of antioxidants (a complex of alpha-tocopherol with ascorbic acid and methionine and calcium antagonists of the nifedipine group), giving a membranostabilizing effect, in multimodality treatment of patients afflicted with VD.