New drugs for the treatment of hypertension.
Despite the many outstanding favorable results achieved in the treatment of hypertension, several unmet goals of antihypertensive therapy remain, such as better blood pressure control, greater protection against the organ damage associated with hypertension, better tolerability, and ultimately a more effective prevention of cardiovascular disease. These unmet goals are the reasons why new antihypertensive drugs are synthesized and tested in the clinical practice. This paper briefly mentions the goals of new antihypertensive agents and examines the main pharmacological and clinical features of new classes of antihypertensive drugs, such as angiotensin II receptor blockers, central agents, vasopeptidase inhibitors, and endothelin antagonists. The results of experimental and clinical studies with these new drugs are reviewed, emphasizing some advantages and potential disadvantages of these drugs compared with traditional antihypertensive drugs.
Mancia
G
G
Cattedra di Medicina Interna, Università di Milano, Ospedale San Gerardo, Monza, Italy.
Stella
M L
ML
Grassi
G
G
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D013565:Sympatholytics