The hypertension trials.

ESTABLISHED ANTIHYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT: Previous studies have clearly demonstrated the benefits of antihypertensive therapy, particularly in reducing the incidence of stroke. However, there is still concern that the full potential for reversing coronary heart disease in the hypertensive patient has not been realized by treatment with established agents, the diuretics and the beta-blockers. TRIALS ON NEWER AGENTS: A question that still remains to be answered is whether treatment regimens based on alternative drugs, including calcium channel blocking agents and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, will confer an advantage over older drugs. This question is at last being addressed in long-term morbidity and mortality trials with these newer agents.