International Society of Hypertension, World Hypertension, and Three New Classes of Antihypertensive Drugs

Linda Brookes, MSc Medscape Cardiology. 2008; ©2008 Medscape Posted 06/26/2008 Abstract Potent new statistics on the true burden of hypertension in the world today -- to be remembered and cited by all those concerned with the dimensions of this healthcare challenge -- were highlighted at the fourth World Hypertension Day. Also this month, important new US guidelines for home blood pressure (BP) monitoring (patients monitor glucose -- why not BP?) were published. The latest Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment Trialists Collaborative (BPLTTC) meta-analysis suggesting that it is the BP levels attained, not targeting different classes of drugs for different ages, that matters was published. And finally, encouraging results for no less than 3 potential new classes of antihypertensive agents, targeting new pathways.