Emerging Treatment Options in Patients With Difficult-to-Treat Hypertension - Episode 17
DERAs for Resistant Hypertension Management
A panelist discusses how patient compliance remains the primary obstacle to blood pressure control despite effective medications being available, while clinical inertia among healthcare providers and medication side effects affecting electrolytes and kidney function add additional complexity to resistant hypertension management.
New Treatment Approaches
A novel approach to lowering blood pressure involves targeting the endothelium system. While endothelium receptor blockers were previously used only for pulmonary hypertension, aprocitentan is now FDA-approved for treating systemic hypertension. This medication offers a new option by affecting previously unexplored mechanisms that influence blood pressure.
Clinical experience with aprocitentan is still in its early stages, with current access to the medication being suboptimal. However, limited use in patients has confirmed its effectiveness in lowering blood pressure. A notable advantage of aprocitentan is that it does not negatively affect kidney function, and some data suggests it reduces albumin spillover in the urine.
This medication class may be particularly beneficial for patients on multiple blood pressure medications who have chronic kidney disease and experience worsening kidney function or increased potassium levels with traditional antihypertensives. Aprocitentan does not affect these parameters, making it a valuable addition to the treatment arsenal.
