New Drugs and Interventional Strategies for the Management of Hypertension

Abstract

: Essential hypertension is an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide with significant clinical and economical implications. The field of antihypertensive treatment already numbers numerous agents and class of drugs. However, despite these, patients are still developing uncontrolled hypertension hence the continuous need for novel agents, with good tolerability. Advances in this field are focussing both on pharmacotherapy, with developments in traditional and non-traditional targets, as well as interventional techniques such as renal denervation and baroreflex activation therapy. It is likely that future strategies may involve a tailored approach to the individual patient, with genetic modulation playing a key role.

The Contribution of Gut Microbiota and Endothelial Dysfunction in the Development of Arterial Hypertension in Animal Models and in Humans

“…Non-pharmacological recommendations for the control of hypertension include weight loss, limited salt and alcohol intake, use of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, high in fruits and vegetables, and intensification of physical activity [ 233 , 234 ]. Although antihypertensive drug treatment is a well-established strategy, hypertension remains poorly controlled worldwide for the following reasons: (1) not all the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying hypertension are fully neutralized by the various classes of pharmacological treatments currently available and (2) the counter-regulatory mechanisms activated by these drugs can reduce their hypotensive effect [ 235 , 236 , 237 ]. The second part of this review delves into the correlation between hypertension and endothelial dysfunction.…”