Diltiazem in the treatment of hypertension and ischemic heart disease

Treatment of patients with hypertension and ischemic heart disease should be focused not only on the control of overall cardiovascular risk factors, particularly blood pressure, but also on eliminating anginal symptoms, or at least reducing them, as angina symptoms have a crucial prognostic value. Although the amount of blood pressure reduction, rather than the choice of antihypertensive drug, is the major determinant of reduction of cardiovascular risk, some drugs such as ?-blockers should be preferably used in patients with angina. However, ?-blockers are contraindicated or produce intolerable side effects in many patients. Although, in the last years, new drugs for the treatment of stable angina have emerged, diltiazem should remain as a good alternative in the treatment of these patients. In this article, available evidence regarding diltiazem in the treatment of hypertension and ischemic heart disease is updated.