title: Effects of antihypertensive drugs on arterial stiffness.
abstract: In this review, we discuss the possible pathophysiological mechanisms and the role of arterial stiffness as a biomarker, a blood pressure-independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The effects of different antihypertensive drug classes on noninvasively assessed markers of arterial stiffness are also discussed. Current evidence will be reviewed regarding the effect of drugs on arterial stiffness, including the peripheral and central effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor antagonists, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, beta blockers (including vasodilating beta blockers), diuretics, and mineralocorticoid antagonists.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-2041, USA. tduden@uab.edu
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dudenbostel
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Glasser
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D004232:Diuretics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects*; D000092502:Renin Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D000092502:Renin Inhibitors