Lipid effects of antihypertensive drugs.
Despite the well-established correlation between coronary heart disease (CHD) and hypertension, conventional antihypertensive therapy with diuretics and beta-adrenergic blockers has failed to provide protection against CHD. A possible explanation for this failure is the unfavourable effect such drugs have on lipid metabolism. To compare the lipid profiles of commonly used antihypertensive drugs, a survey was made of selected studies from the literature. Diuretics and selective and nonselective beta-blockers were found to have adverse effects on blood lipids. Beta-blockers with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, labetalol, methyldopa, calcium channel blockers and ACE-inhibitors are lipid neutral, whereas alpha-adrenergic blockers seemed to have a favourable effect on lipid metabolism. Controlled clinical trials with drugs that have no adverse effects on lipid metabolism are needed to establish the long-term clinical importance of such agents.
Oslo University Medical School, Department of Medicine, Ullevål Hospital, Norway.
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D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000009:adverse effects
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008055:Lipids; D013565:Sympatholytics