Antipathological potential of beta-blockers.
Today, beta-blockers are frequently the drugs of first choice for the treatment of hypertension. It had been hoped that beta-blocker therapy would confer a primary preventive effect against coronary artery disease (CAD), but so far a positive effect has been shown only in open trials. In addition to a primary preventive effect (which remains to be shown in a controlled trial), it is anticipated that in the future treatment of hypertension the bea-blockers will have vascular protective potential. The regression of hypertension-induced structural arteriolar changes has already been demonstrated when a vasodilating component is present, while in experimental animals subjected to stress and a high cholesterol intake beta-blockers prevent or reduce the degree of coronary atheromatosis. For such reasons it seems logical to predict that beta-blockers, especially those with a vasodilating action, afford potential cardiovascular protection. Thus, in addition to their antihypertensive effects, regression of cardiovascular hypertrophic changes can be expected, presumably with a primary preventive action against CAD and atherosclerotic changes. Clinical trials to evaluate these highly desirable prospects should be given high priority.
Hansson
L
L
Department of Medicine, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000517:prevention & control; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists