title: Is there a preferred antihypertensive therapy for isolated systolic hypertension and reduced arterial compliance?
abstract: Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is the most common type of hypertension and the most difficult type to control with antihypertensive therapy. ISH, by definition, is wide pulse pressure hypertension resulting largely from excessive large artery stiffness and representing an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in the older aged population. Two major intervention studies of ISH have shown significant benefit in reducing systolic blood pressure with active drug therapy, including thiazide diuretics and calcium receptor antagonists. The optimal treatment strategy is to maximize reduction in systolic blood pressure and to minimize reduction in diastolic blood pressure, thereby reducing pulse pressure. All classes of antihypertensive drugs reduce pulse pressure by means of lowering peripheral resistance, but certain drugs like nitrates, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and other drugs affecting the renin-angiotensin system have multiple actions that improve large artery stiffness and early wave reflection and are especially useful in treating ISH in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: UCI Heart Disease Prevention Program, C240 Medical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. sfrankln@ucla.edu
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Franklin
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003187:Compliance; D003971:Diastole; D004232:Diuretics; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011674:Pulse; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013599:Systole; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics; D009566:Nitrates; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors