Antihypertensive Drugs Pharmacology, Medical Uses and Potential Side Effects

Arterial hypertension is one of the most important preventable contributors to disease and death, and is commonly treated with antihypertensive drugs combined with appropriate changes in life-style. The first chapter focuses on the options in the enantioseparation of antihypertensive drugs, the synthesis of single enantiomers and chiral aspects of their action and dispositions. The second chapter of this book examines the potential genotoxic effects of five Angiotensin II receptor blockers, analysed in vivo and in vitro in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). The third chapter includes a general description about polymorphism and some techniques used in polymorphism characterisation. Then, the specific description of some antihypertensive drugs that present polymorphism phenomena are introduced. Finally, hypertension is by far the most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease in sub-Saharan Africa. In this book, the authors discuss the ethnic/racial peculiarities in the incidence, pathophysiology and management of hypertension in the black hypertensive patient.