Jozef Bulas
According to ESH/ESC all the major classes of antihypertensive agents: diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists are suitable for the initiation and maintenance of antihypertensive therapy taking into the account some specific indications favouring some kind of drug. In the group of patients with blood pressure level in high normal range the drug therapy is indicated when associated clinical condition (stroke, coronary heart disease and diabetes) is present. The American guidelines JNC-7 recommend the thiazide-type diuretic as an antihypertensive drug of choice alone or in combination with another type of drug. The drugs from other major classes are indicated as a first line drug mainly in compelling indications in certain high - risk conditions.