title: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the assessment of antihypertensive therapy.
abstract: Before an antihypertensive drug is approved for use in clinical practice it must undergo rigorous clinical testing. Basic pharmacokinetic data are usually first obtained in healthy, normal individuals and thereafter in patients with renal or hepatic disease or in sub-groups such as the young or elderly. Acute dosing studies over a wide dosage range are then required prior to initiating longer-term studies. After one or more dosage levels have been selected and the appropriate dosing interval established, investigators may proceed with studies of four to twelve weeks duration, comparing the new drug with placebo or other standard therapies such as a thiazide diuretic or a beta-blocker. A key element in the evaluation process is the assessment of the drug
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents