Modern concepts in the drug treatment of arterial hypertension

The present survey paper, concerning newer drugs used in the treatment of arterial hypertension, deals with the following types of agents: centrally acting drugs, such as clonidine nd alpha-methyl-DOPA; vasodilator drugs with a direct action on smooth muscle, such as minoxidil; diuretic agents, with special reference to the choice of a drug from the vast number of compounds; beta-sympatholytic drugs (beta blockers) and which drug to choose; prazosin, with special reference to its considerable theoretical interest; drugs that influence the renin-angiotensin system, such as saralasin (P 113), an angiotensin II-antagonist; and inhibitors of the converting enzyme, such as teprotide (SQ 20,881) and captopril (SQ 14,225). Finally, a general schedule for the treatment of hypertension, issued as a guideline by the Dutch Institution of General Practitioners, is presented.