NEWER ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS - A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE

The growth of hypertension pharmacotherapy over the past few decades has provided the means for effective control of high blood pressure and new insights into the pathophysiology of hypertension. As new concepts of cardiovascular regulation emerge, novel antihypertensive agents have been conceived and developed. This review focuses on the exciting new drugs that are evolving from this process of scientific discovery. In addition to an increasing number of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, both non-peptide angiotensin II antagonists that are selective AT1 receptor inhibitors and at least one peptidic renin inhibitor have become promising investigational agents. Therapeutic stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide (ie, endothelium-derived relaxing factor) with L-arginine appears to lower blood pressure. Inhibition of endothelin-1 induced vasoconstriction by a selective antagonist, BQ-123, reduces blood pressure. Finally, potassium-channel openers for vascular smooth muscle membranes have provided another innovation in vasodilatation.