The cardiovascular effects of alpha-receptor blocking agents.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize selective alpha 1-adrenergic blockers as antihypertensive agents, particularly doxazosin. CHARACTERISTICS OF ALPHA-BLOCKERS: These agents lower elevated blood pressure by reducing peripheral arterial resistance without increasing the heart rate or reducing cardiac output. They also reduce left ventricular hypertrophy; improve an atherogenic lipid profile; reduce the risk of thrombotic complications; reduce the formation of fatty streaks, the precursor of advanced athersclerosis; have no adverse metabolic effects in diabetic hypertensives; have a comparable side-effect profile to that of other antihypertensive drugs; and are cost-effective.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to reducing high blood pressure, the alpha-blockers reduce a number of other cardiovascular risk factors. In attempts to solve the hypertension-coronary dilemma, these additional effects may prove to be of crucial importance.
International Cardiological Institute for Therapeutic Research (ICIT), University of Oslo, Norway.
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D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000188:drug therapy; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017292:Doxazosin; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D011224:Prazosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008055:Lipids; D017292:Doxazosin; D011224:Prazosin