Fixed-combination therapies in hypertension management: focus on enalapril/lercanidipine.
Recent hypertension guidelines have highlighted the need to achieve blood pressure control in order to effectively reduce cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality. However, blood pressure control remains poorly achieved in the general population, particularly in high- or very-high-risk hypertensive patients. In view of the growing need to achieve better blood pressure control and provide adequate cardiovascular and renal protection in hypertensive patients, the implementation of combination therapies--especially fixed-dose combinations--is currently recommended. A greater use of fixed-combination therapies, based on a single daily administration of two drugs, in fact, may favor better compliance and adherence to prescribed antihypertensive medications. Among the possible fixed-dose combinations, the one based on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium-channel blockers, may be considered an effective, safe and well-tolerated approach and may provide a beneficial impact on cardiovascular risk. This article reviews the potential role of fixed-combination therapy in the treatment of hypertension with a specific focus on an emerging calcium-channel blocker angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor fixed-dose combination based on a new-generation dihiidropiridinic calcium-channel blocker (lercanidipine) and the prototype angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (enalapril).
Tocci
Giuliano
G
Division of Cardiology, II Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa, 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy. giuliano.tocci@uniroma1.it
Palano
Francesca
F
Pagannone
Erika
E
Chin
Diana
D
Ferrucci
Andrea
A
Volpe
Massimo
M
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004656:Enalapril / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055118:Medication Adherence
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004656:Enalapril; C060343:lercanidipine