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Its Past and (Perhaps) Its Future

Harriet P. Dustan, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1996;156(17):1913-1914.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

THE TREATMENT of hypertension has come a long way since the early days of ganglionblocking drugs, reserpine, hydralazine, and diuretics. After more than 40 years of experience with antihypertensive drug therapy and a shorter experience with broadly recommended nonpharmacological modalities, we have learned much about efficacy, but the search goes on for more specific treatments and a better understanding of the relationships between blood pressure control and hypertension-related vascular diseases. That better understanding will determine in large measure what the future holds for improved therapies.

Predicting the future is always hazardous. Take for example what we now know about the reninangiotensin system, because when that system was discovered, there was no way to foresee its widespread biological significance. However, a look back at treatments as they have evolved may predict what the future holds. My approach to this topic has been influenced by a recent article in Science, which suggests . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine University of Vermont College of Medicine Burlington, VT 05405

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