[Can treatment be stopped when mild hypertension is controlled?]

Antihypertensive medication was stopped in 20 patients with mild hypertension who had no signs of left ventricular hypertrophy and in whom fundoscopy was normal. At the end of 12 and 24 months, 60% and 34%, respectively, had remained normotensive. In 2 patients therapy had to be reinstituted after 1 year, and in 1 after 2 years. 8 had decided by themselves to restart treatment even though their blood pressures were in the normal range. 3 were uncooperative and dropped out of the study. These results show that a large proportion of mild hypertensives remain normotensive long after withdrawal of drug therapy. Since in our experience temporary withdrawal is beneficial, we suggest that therapy be stopped when mild hypertension has been controlled for at least 2 years. However, there must be careful followup and therapy should be reinstituted at once if hypertension recurs.