Diuretics in hypertension: clinical experiences

Abstract

Diuretics have long been used in the treatment of hypertension and are outstandingly efficacious when used either alone or in combination with other antihypertensive compounds. Blood pressure is controlled with diuretics alone in over 50% of patients and in over 80% in combination with other drugs. Thiazide diuretics were used singly and in combination in the early VA Co-operative studies that demonstrated decrease in cardiovascular morbidity with blood pressure control. Subsequent studies have confirmed these early findings and clearly demonstrated that the thiazide diuretics are as effective in lowering blood pressure as other currently available antihypertensive compounds. Diuretics, like all other antihypertensives, have side effects, of which the most important ones are hypokalaemia, alterations of the plasma lipid profile, hyperuricaemia and glucose intolerance. Diuretic-induced hypokalaemia may be hazardous in the presence of digitalis, but does not appear to have any inherent propensity to induce life-threatening arrhythmias. Diuretics remain amongst first-line drugs in the treatment of high blood pressure due to their efficacy, especially in blacks and the elderly, the potentiation of the antihypertensive efficacy of other compounds, their low side effect profile and their low cost.