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Inflammation and Therapy for Hypertension

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Abstract

It is currently accepted that hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes are disorders with subtle or overt activation of inflammatory mediators. Therefore, it has become increasingly important to ascertain whether current antihypertensive drug families have proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory actions that modify the outcomes of their hemodynamic effects on blood pressure. We review the current state of knowledge about the effects of the major classes of available antihypertensive agents on inflammation and speculate on the possible contribution of these effects to observations in clinical trials. We suggest that a strategy of drug development specifically addressing inflammation in hypertension may provide increased benefit in terms of target organ damage, and we describe some examples of these promising developments.

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Abbreviations

AASK:

African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension

ACCOMPLISH:

Avoiding Cardiovascular Events Through Combination Therapy in Patients Living With Systolic Hypertension

ALLHAT:

Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial

ALPINE:

Antihypertensive Treatment and Lipid Profile in a North of Sweden Efficacy Evaluation

ASCOT:

Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial

CAPPP:

Captopril Prevention Project

CHARM:

Candesartan in Heart Failure–Assessment Of Mortality And Morbidity

EPHESUS:

Eplerenone Post-Acute Myocardial Infarction Heart Failure Efficacy and Survival Study

GEMINI:

The Glycemic Effects in Diabetes Mellitus: Carvedilol-Metoprolol Comparison in Hypertensives

HOPE:

Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation

LIFE:

Losartan Intervention for Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension

PRAISE:

Prospective Randomized Amlodipine Survival Evaluation

RALES:

Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study

SOLVD:

Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction

UKPDS:

United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study

VALUE:

Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-Term Use Evaluation

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Disclosure

Both Dr. Elijovich and Dr. Laffer are members of the Speakers Bureau for Novartis. Dr. Laffer has also received grant support from Novartis and CVRx, Inc.

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  1. Scott & White Memorial Hospital and Clinics, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple, TX, 76508, USA

    Cheryl L. Laffer & Fernando Elijovich

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  1. Cheryl L. Laffer
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  2. Fernando Elijovich
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Correspondence to Fernando Elijovich.

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Laffer, C.L., Elijovich, F. Inflammation and Therapy for Hypertension. Curr Hypertens Rep 12, 233–242 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-010-0125-3

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