AIH 2997;20:246S-152s Cardiac Effects of Combination Therapy

Control of hypertension and treatment of ischemia patient, verapamil may exert some concomitant pathophysiologic conditions require additional beneficial effects with regard to use of multiple drugs. Unfortunately, most studies reinfarction rates. regarding hypertensive disease have focused on Given that two drugs when used separately are monotherapy. Thus, our knowledge of combination beneficial in a disorder does not necessarily mean therapy in the treatment of hypertension is, to a that their combination is equally or even more great extent, extrapolation from monotherapy. beneficial. Thus, combination therapy should Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors primarily be used for lowering arterial pressure in combination with calcium antagonists should be and only secondarily to possibly improve particularly efficacious in reducing left ventricular concomitant pathophysiologic conditions hypertrophy (LVH). Drug classes that either associated with hypertensive heart disease. AmJ stimulate the renin-angiotensin system or the Hypertens 1997;10:146S-152s 0 1997 American sympathetic nervous system are less likely to Journal of Hypertension, Ltd. reduce LVH and should be avoided. In hypertensive patients with congestive heart failure, KEY WORDS: Angiotensin converting enzym