Primary and secondary prevention of stroke by antihypertensive treatment in clinical trials.
High blood pressure represents one of the leading risk factors for the development of stroke and its recurrence. This explains why blood pressure control is a major objective of antihypertensive treatment, both in primary and secondary prevention of this cerebrovascular disease. This paper reviews the evidence provided by randomized clinical trials on the favorable effects exerted by blood pressure reduction on this end point. Emphasis is given to the results of recently published clinical trials documenting that drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin system may exert cerebrovascular protective effects additive to the ones associated with blood pressure reduction.
Clinica Medica, Ospedale S. Gerardo, Università Milano Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20052, Monza (Milan), Italy. guido.grassi@unimib.it
Guido
G
Grassi
Francesca
F
Arenare
Fosca Quarti
FQ
Trevano
Raffaella
R
Dell'Oro
And Giuseppe
AG
Mancia
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents