Vnitr Lek 1998, 44(10):606-608

[Angiology as a most important specialty and an integral part of internal medicine].

P Gavorník: II. interná klinika FN LF UK, Bratislava.

The author wishes to remind the broad medical public, in particular specialists in internal medicine, that vascular diseases are the most widespread, most serious and most urgent medical, social and economic problems of all countries in the present world. They cause a high morbidity, associated with work incapacity, disability and about half of all deaths in the population, i.e. twice as many as the second most frequent cause of death--oncological diseases (angioepidemy). Vascular diseases and their risk factors are internal diseases which usually effect several organs and tissues of the human organism. The author refutes disintegration of internal medicine and explains the integral relationship of angiology and internal medicine.