Vascular effects of antihypertensive drug therapy.

Hypertension is associated with structural and functional alterations in the vasculature that lead to hemodynamic disturbances and target organ damage. The benefit of reducing blood pressure on risk reduction is well established. Antihypertensive drugs partially correct hypertensive vascular changes by a number of mechanisms, but their influence may vary in different vascular beds. Recently, combinations of drugs with complementary or synergistic effects have shown favorable effects on the vasculature; these combinations may contribute to risk reduction and improve outcomes in the future. Clinical trial evidence has shown an improvement in morbidity and mortality indicators that could be related to vascular effects of antihypertensive drugs, but this effect needs to be proven in future long-term prospective studies involving simultaneous evaluation of small-artery and large-artery properties.