[Study on intervention in arterial hypertension. Recommendations by experts and practical antihypertensive therapy. German Hypertension League].

Important intervention trials performed during the last decades and years are presented and critically reviewed. These long-term studies with hard end points have demonstrated positive results for four different antihypertensive classes: diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors. The major issue is the prevention of hypertensive complications such as myocardial infarction, heart failure or stroke. For achieving this primary goal blood pressure reduction--or ideally normalization--is of decisive importance. As recommended by the Deutsche Hochdruckliga (German "Hypertension League") specific and individualized treatment of hypertension should consider target organ protecting effects of the various antihypertensive agents. In many cases combination therapy will be necessary to control hypertension (blood pressure target < 140/90 mmHg).