Biomaterial Database

Modern approaches to initiating antihypertensive therapy. 1995

H Gavras, and I Gavras

Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Massachusetts, USA.

From the five broad classes of antihypertensive drugs that have been in use long enough for adequate clinical experience to be obtained, the most recent report of the Joint National Committee on Hypertension recommends drugs from two older classes--the diuretics and the beta-adrenergic blockers--as first-line treatment. This article argues that newer drugs and in particular the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may be equally or more appropriate as first choice. Physicians should choose on the basis of a drug's pharmacologic properties and the patient's clinical profile, rather than according to a generic set of rules. Considering that the goals of modern antihypertensive therapy are not only lowering of blood pressure to prevent complications, but also long-term cardioprotection without adverse effects on the quality of life, some newer drugs might even prove more cost-effective in the long run.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006973	Hypertension	Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more.	Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D004232	Diuretics	Agents that promote the excretion of urine through their effects on kidney function.	Diuretic,Diuretic Effect,Diuretic Effects,Effect, Diuretic,Effects, Diuretic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000319	Adrenergic beta-Antagonists	Drugs that bind to but do not activate beta-adrenergic receptors thereby blocking the actions of beta-adrenergic agonists. Adrenergic beta-antagonists are used for treatment of hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, angina pectoris, glaucoma, migraine headaches, and anxiety.	Adrenergic beta-Antagonist,Adrenergic beta-Receptor Blockader,Adrenergic beta-Receptor Blockaders,beta-Adrenergic Antagonist,beta-Adrenergic Blocker,beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agent,beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents,beta-Adrenergic Receptor Blockader,beta-Adrenergic Receptor Blockaders,beta-Adrenoceptor Antagonist,beta-Blockers, Adrenergic,beta-Adrenergic Antagonists,beta-Adrenergic Blockers,beta-Adrenoceptor Antagonists,Adrenergic beta Antagonist,Adrenergic beta Antagonists,Adrenergic beta Receptor Blockader,Adrenergic beta Receptor Blockaders,Adrenergic beta-Blockers,Agent, beta-Adrenergic Blocking,Agents, beta-Adrenergic Blocking,Antagonist, beta-Adrenergic,Antagonist, beta-Adrenoceptor,Antagonists, beta-Adrenergic,Antagonists, beta-Adrenoceptor,Blockader, Adrenergic beta-Receptor,Blockader, beta-Adrenergic Receptor,Blockaders, Adrenergic beta-Receptor,Blockaders, beta-Adrenergic Receptor,Blocker, beta-Adrenergic,Blockers, beta-Adrenergic,Blocking Agent, beta-Adrenergic,Blocking Agents, beta-Adrenergic,Receptor Blockader, beta-Adrenergic,Receptor Blockaders, beta-Adrenergic,beta Adrenergic Antagonist,beta Adrenergic Antagonists,beta Adrenergic Blocker,beta Adrenergic Blockers,beta Adrenergic Blocking Agent,beta Adrenergic Blocking Agents,beta Adrenergic Receptor Blockader,beta Adrenergic Receptor Blockaders,beta Adrenoceptor Antagonist,beta Adrenoceptor Antagonists,beta Blockers, Adrenergic,beta-Antagonist, Adrenergic,beta-Antagonists, Adrenergic,beta-Receptor Blockader, Adrenergic,beta-Receptor Blockaders, Adrenergic
D000806	Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors	A class of drugs whose main indications are the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. They exert their hemodynamic effect mainly by inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system. They also modulate sympathetic nervous system activity and increase prostaglandin synthesis. They cause mainly vasodilation and mild natriuresis without affecting heart rate and contractility.	ACE Inhibitor,ACE Inhibitors,Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor,Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor,Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor,Kininase II Inhibitor,Kininase II Inhibitors,Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors,Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Antagonists,Antagonists, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme,Antagonists, Kininase II,Inhibitors, ACE,Inhibitors, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme,Inhibitors, Kininase II,Kininase II Antagonists,Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Antagonists,Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors,Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme Inhibitor,Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme Inhibitors,Antagonists, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme,Enzyme Antagonists, Angiotensin-Converting,Enzyme Inhibitor, Angiotensin-Converting,Enzyme Inhibitors, Angiotensin-Converting,II Inhibitor, Kininase,Inhibitor, ACE,Inhibitor, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme,Inhibitor, Kininase II,Inhibitors, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme