title: Treatment of isolated systolic hypertension.
abstract: Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is the dominant form of hypertension in the elderly. It is associated with increased arterial pulse pressure, to which an early-returning and magnified pulse-wave reflection makes an important contribution. Treatment of ISH with diuretics, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and angiotensin II inhibitors is effective in reducing systolic blood pressure, preventing cardiovascular morbid events, and lowering mortality; these agents may have to be used in combination to achieve the systolic blood pressure goal of < 140 mm Hg. Treatment with beta-blockers appears to be less effective. The relative efficacy of various classes of antihypertensive drugs for lowering pulse pressure and systolic blood pressure is determined in part by their differing abilities to reduce pulse-wave reflection. In patients with ISH that is refractory to dual or triple therapy, measurement of the reflected wave by applanation tonometry may be useful in determining which additional antihypertensive agent to use.
authors.affiliation: gstokes@med.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Gordon S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Stokes
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics