Effects of antihypertensive therapy on cardiac function.
The failure of clinical trials in the treatment of hypertension to show protection against mortality from coronary heart disease has prompted a major reconsideration of the indications and modes of therapy. One area of concern is the lipid disturbances seen with diuretics and non-ISA (intrinsic sympathomimetic activity) beta blockers; another is the negative inotropic effect of beta blockers. The more widespread use of vasodilators--either alpha-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, or calcium channel blockers--therefore seems appropriate. Among the calcium channel blockers, nicardipine appears to be a particularly attractive choice, in part because of its lack of negative inotropism.
Kaplan
N M
NM
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas 75235-9030.
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents