APPLICATION SINCE 1980 OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AGENTS TO TREAT PEDIATRIC DISEASE

Strategies for using antihypertensive agents have changed significantl y since 1980. This paper reviews clinical studies devoted to the use o f antihypertensive agents in children beyond the newborn period. The a vailability of converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium channel blocke rs has significantly improved BP control in children with secondary fo rms of hypertension. The role of antihypertensive agents to chronicall y treat primary hypertension in children remains unclear. Additionally , some treatment protocols used in adults that apply to the treatment of hypertensive children and that have been used in the treatment of n onhypertensive disease are discussed. Preliminary studies suggest that the rate of decline of renal function in some forms of progressive re nal disease may be retarded by the use of converting enzyme inhibitors .