ABSTRACT

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality in the western world. Since hypertension has been identified as a potent risk factor for both stroke and myocardial infarction, it is not surprising that many drugs which reduce blood pressure are already in widespread clinical use, with more under preclinical investigation, or at the stage of Phase I trials. Anti-hypertensive therapy is currently, therefore, aimed at blood pressure reduction, with the drugs used acting on the major physiological mechanisms and organ systems known to be responsible for maintenance of blood pressure; these include the sympathetic nervous system, the renin angiotensin system, the kidney and vascular smooth muscle. Since hypertension is a condition characterised by an increase in peripheral resistance, many anti-hypertensive drugs exert their major effect by relaxation of the resistance arterioles.