Mild hypertension

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-VIII

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2. Introduction: Some neurological aspects of blood pressure control

   1. Introduction: Some neurological aspects of blood pressure control

      • W. S. Peart

      Pages 1-7

3. Central and peripheral control of blood pressure

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 9-9

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   2. Central nervous system control of blood pressure

      • Ronald J. Polinsky

      Pages 11-23

   3. Blood pressure control and the peripheral sympathetic nervous system

      • C. J. Mathias

      Pages 24-33

   4. Baroreflex function and centrally acting antihypertensive drugs

      • Gordon P. Guthrie Jr.

      Pages 34-42

   5. Haemodynamic effects of antihypertensive agents in man

      • G. Mancia, A. Zanchetti

      Pages 43-50

   6. Vascular autonomy and its relation to the action of antihypertensive drugs

      • J. G. Collier

      Pages 51-61

4. Therapeutic consequences

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 63-63

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   2. Therapeutic decisions in mild hypertension: an introductory overview

      • Stanley S. Franklin

      Pages 65-71

   3. When to treat? Recent trials in mild hypertension. Epidemiological data and conclusions

      • K. Hayduk

      Pages 72-77

   4. Current assessment of the stepped-care treatment of mild hypertension: diuretics, beta-blockers, vasodilators versus Clonidine

      • M. P. Sambhi

      Pages 78-87

   5. Use of centrally-acting agonists in the treatment of mild hypertension in the elderly patient

      • J. I. M. Drayer, M. A. Weber

      Pages 88-95

   6. Sympathetic nervous system activity in the obese hypertensive patient: potential role for central alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists

      • Michael Tuck

      Pages 96-108

   7. Clonidine for treating patients with mild hypertension and angina pectoris

      • T. Zaleska, L. Ceremużyński

      Pages 109-117

   8. New pharmacological approaches in the treatment of mild hypertension. The potential role of converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium blocking agents

      • F. Alhenc-Gelas, P. Corvol, J. Menard

      Pages 118-126

5. Advances in treatment

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 129-129

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   2. Rate-controlled drug delivery and the reduction of risk

      • K. Heilmann

      Pages 131-133

   3. Clonidine rate — controlled system: technology and kinetics

      • J. E. Shaw, D. Enscore, L. Chu

      Pages 134-142

   4. Absorption of clonidine from a transdermal therapeutic system when applied to different body sites

      • K. Hopkins, L. Aarons, M. Rowland

      Pages 143-147

There is clear evidence that in severe hypertension lowering blood pressure, by drug therapy decreases the incidence of major cardiovascular events. Recent studies suggest that such benefit may also extend to patients with mild to moderate hypertension. The putative benefits of drugs may be offset, however, by their adverse effects and a prime example is the increased incidence of impotence and metabolic disorders in patients on thiazide diuretics. There is, therefore, a real need to look further into the therapy of patients with mild to moderate hypertension. The ideal drug in such patients would oppose the basic mechanisms responsible for the elevation in blood pressure, would prevent counter-regulatory responses and would have minimal side-effects in both the short-term and the long-term, the latter being of particular importance to younger patients. These aspects were considered at the symposium "Mild hypertension. Current con­ troversies and new approaches" held at Titisee in West Germany, October 13-15 in 1983. The foundation for discussion was set with an exposition of the neural and hormonal regulation of blood pressure in normal man followed by a consideration of the possible pathophysiological mechanisms involved in patients with hypertension. Particular at­ tention was focused on the central nervous system and on effects governed by activity of the peripheral nervous system as these may well provide further opportunities for logical therapeutic intervention in clinical hypertension. The current management of mild to moderate hypertension was then reviewed.

• angina pectoris
• blood pressure
• cardiovascular
• drugs
• hypertension

• Hypertension Center, Veterans Administration Center, Long Beach, USA

  M. A. Weber

• Medical Unit, St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London, Great Britain

  C. J. Mathias

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