Novel Therapies on the Horizon of Hypertension Management

BACKGROUND: The rates of uncontrolled hypertension, along with downstream cardiovascular outcomes, has been worsening in this country. Despite the plethora of antihypertensive medications on the market, the prevalence of resistant hypertension (RH) is estimated to be 13.7%. Therefore in addition to increased clinical education and focus on lifestyle management of hypertension and medication compliance, new therapies are needed to address this rise in hypertension. METHODS: A systematic review of the available medical literature was performed to identify emerging treatment options for RH. RESULTS: Six different pharmacologic classes and 2 procedural interventions were identified as being appropriate for review in this paper. The pharmacologic classes to be explored are non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, aminopeptidase A inhibitors, dual endothelin antagonists, aldosterone synthetase inhibitors, atrial natriuretic peptide inhibitors, and attenuators of hepatic angiotensinogen. Discussion of procedural interventions to lower blood pressure will focus on renal denervation and devices that increase carotid baroreceptor activity. CONCLUSIONS: Promising medication and procedural interventions are being developed and studied to expand our treatment arsenal for patients with uncontrolled essential hypertension and RH.