Fenoldopam: A new parenteral antihypertensive - Consensus roundtable on the management of perioperative hypertension and hypertensive crises

A panel of clinicians from anesthesiology, surgery, nephrology, hypertensio n, cardiology and pharmacology was convened to discuss pharmacologic therap eutics in the management of hypertensive crisis and perioperative hypertens ion. The panel discussed the advantages and limitations of currently availa ble parenteral drugs, and assessed the potential use of fenoldopam mesylate , a drug in clinical development since 1981, and recently approved by the U .S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fenoldopam is a dopamine receptor ( DA, selective) agonist that is a systemic and renal vasodilator. It was con cluded that fenoldopam offers significant advantages as a parenterally admi nistered agent for the management of blood pressure in both hypertensive em ergencies and in the perioperative setting. (C) 1999 American Journal of Hy pertension, Ltd.