September 1, 1999
View Full PaperNew drugs for the treatment of hypertension
Structured PICO
Do new classes of antihypertensive drugs improve blood pressure control and cardiovascular outcomes compared to traditional agents in patients with hypertension?
P
Population
Patients with hypertension
I
Intervention
New classes of antihypertensive drugs (angiotensin II receptor blockers, central agents, vasopeptidase inhibitors, and endothelin antagonists)
C
Comparator
Traditional antihypertensive drugs
O
Outcome
Blood pressure control, protection against organ damage, tolerability, and prevention of cardiovascular disease
This review summarizes the pharmacological and clinical features of new antihypertensive drug classes, including ARBs, central agents, vasopeptidase inhibitors, and endothelin antagonists.
Abstract
Despite the many outstanding favorable results achieved in the treatment of hypertension, several unmet goals of antihypertensive therapy remain, such as better blood pressure control, greater protection against the organ damage associated with hypertension, better tolerability, and ultimately a more effective prevention of cardiovascular disease. These unmet goals are the reasons why new antihypertensive drugs are synthesized and tested in the clinical practice. This paper briefly mentions the goals of new antihypertensive agents and examines the main pharmacological and clinical features of new classes of antihypertensive drugs, such as angiotensin II receptor blockers, central agents, vasopeptidase inhibitors, and endothelin antagonists. The results of experimental and clinical studies with these new drugs are reviewed, emphasizing some advantages and potential disadvantages of these drugs compared with traditional antihypertensive drugs.