Step-down therapy for hypertension. Effect of weight reduction and sodium restriction on success

The recently completed Dietary Intervention Study in Hypertension shows that patients with mild hypertension who have successfully controlled blood pressure with medication for several years can discontinue antihypertensive drug therapy and remain normotensive for at least one year if they are willing to lose weight or restrict intake of sodium. On the other hand, patients with severe hypertension (defined by initial blood pressure or number of medications required for control) are likely to experience relapse after discontinuing medication.