New blood pressure findings from University of Cambridge published

NewsRx.com

7/23/2009

Researchers detail in 'Antihypertensive drugs and central blood pressure,' new data in blood pressure. "Recent evidence suggests that central blood pressure is a more important determinant of cardiovascular risk than brachial pressure. Interestingly, antihypertensive drugs exert different effects on brachial and central pressure," scientists writing in the journal Current Hypertension Reports report (see also Blood Pressure).

"Traditional beta-blockers, such as atenolol, appear to have an adverse impact on central pressure, despite lowering brachial pressure. This may help to explain the results of recent large outcome studies using atenolol," wrote C.M McEniery and colleagues, University of Cambridge.

The researchers concluded: "Further research is required to clarify whether other antihypertensive agents lower central pressure beyond the effects observed on brachial pressure."

McEniery and colleagues published their study in Current Hypertension Reports (Antihypertensive drugs and central blood pressure. Current Hypertension Reports, 2009;11(4):253-9).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting C.M. McEniery, Addenbrooke's Hospital Box 110, Clinical Pharmacology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB20QQ, UK.

The publisher of the journal Current Hypertension Reports can be contacted at: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA.

Keywords: United Kingdom, Cambridge, Atenolol, Blood Pressure, Cardiology, Cardiovascular, Cardiovascular Risk, Drugs, Hypertension, Pharmaceuticals, Therapy, Treatment.

This article was prepared by Blood Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Blood Weekly via NewsRx.com.

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