Role of diuretics in arterial hypertension
Olmer, M.; Ducros, J.; Grandvuillemin, M.; Salvadori, J.M.
Archives des Maladies du Coeur et des Vaisseaux 71(Special Issue): 39-46
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9683 PMID: 101179 Document Number: 133775
The place of diuretics in the treatment of hypertension (HT) no longer requires to be proved, but their mode of action remains uncertain. Blood volume measurements allow us to distinguish the cases of HT which are volume-dependent, and which constitute the major indication for this type of treatment. The various groups of diuretics have a specific action on the renal tubule, but may all lead to complications, which imply that their use should be rational and that biochemical follow-up should be close when they are administered for a prolonged period. Used singly, diuretics effectively suppress HT in 40 per cent of cases, and when used in association with a beta-blocker, they produce normal blood pressure in 70 per cent of cases.