Summary
Diuretics are powerful agents that impair sodium reabsorption in renal tubules. Their
ability to alter long-term sodium balance induces important hemodynamic changes that
result in a reduction in peripheral resistance and sustained reduction in blood pressure.
A pharmacologically diverse group of drugs, they remain a mainstay in the therapy
of hypertension. Clinical trials over the past 4 decades consistently have shown that
blood pressure lowering obtained from a diuretic-based regimen reduces cardiovascular
events. The ability of diuretics to augment the efficacy of nearly all other classes
of antihypertensives makes them highly versatile and an important pharmacotherapeutic
intervention to achieve blood pressure control. This article reviews key aspects of
the use of diuretics relevant to the clinical management of hypertension.
Keywords
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© 2011 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
