title: [Pharmacological basis of antihypertensive drug therapy].
abstract: In order to lower arterial blood pressure, antihypertensive drugs decrease cardiac output, total peripheral resistance or both. Diuretics, beta-blockers, and central adrenergic inhibitors decrease cardiac output. ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II antagonists, calcium antagonists, alpha-blockers, central adrenergic inhibitors, and after a delay also diuretics and beta-blockers decrease peripheral resistance. Diuretics are first line therapy for treating low renin hypertension. Beta blockers are used for treating high renin hypertension and patients suffering additional coronary artery disease. ACE inihibitors can be given for treating high renin hypertension particularly in conjunction with diabetes, heart failure or left ventricular hypertrophy. Combining ACE inhibitors with diuretics potentiates the antihypertensive effect. Angiotensin II antagonists exert fewer side effects and better renal protection than ACE inhibitors. The main indication for calcium antagonists is low renin hypertension, their advantages being strong blood pressure reduction as well as in preventing stroke. Central alpha2 receptor agonists and other vasodilators are chosen only in selected cases and mostly in combination with other antihypertensive drugs.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Kardiologie, Kantonsspital Luzern.
authors.forename: U W
authors.initials: UW
authors.lastname: Kolck
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Zaugg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Erne
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000502:physiology; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D014665:Vasodilator Agents