Presented is a review of important new informations in the field of cardiovascular pathology. The particular items discussed are hypertension (new definition and classification), etiopathogenesis of atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease (unstable plaque; acute coronary syndrome; advances in therapy), valvular diseases (changing spectrum; calcific aortic stenosis; mitral valve prolapse), cardiomyopathies (new definition; etiology), infective endocarditis (changing pattern), senile heart diseases, and endomyocardial biopsy.

        Key words: hypertension – atherosclerosis – ischemic heart disease – valvular diseases – cardiomyopathies – infective endocarditis – senile heart diseases – endomyocardial biopsy