RESUMO
Hypertension, often referred to as ‘The silent killer’, is christened so, as it is seldom preceded by any warning signs or symptoms. With the new ACC/AHA guidelines lowering the Blood Pressure (BP) threshold values, it has resulted in a 140% relative increase in the hypertension prevalence in India, which is 3 times higher than that of in United States. Imidazoline receptor agonists control BP effectively with minimal adverse effects of sedation and mental depression that are usually associated with centrally acting antihypertensives. While having a low affinity to the α2-adrenergic receptors, these new generation centrally acting antihypertensive agents are highly selective for imidazoline receptor. Moxonidine, a second-generation centrally acting antihypertensive drug having selective agonist activity on imidazoline I1 receptors and minor activity on imidazoline α2 adrenoceptors, reduces the activity of Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) by activating I1 imidazoline receptors in Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla (RVLM). Studies of moxonidine have shown equal effectiveness in lowering BP like other well-established antihypertensive drugs such as nifedipine, atenolol or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, with minimal adverse events. At doses of 0.2-0.6 mg, moxonidine induces satisfactory BP reduction in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. In patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension, moxonidine (0.2-0.4 mg o.d.) significantly decreased Systolic Blood Pressure/Diastolic Blood Pressure (SBP/DBP), respectively, by 19.5/11.6 mmHg. In obese, non-controlled hypertensive patients, there is a 14% and 13.5% reduction in the mean SBP and DBP, respectively, from the baseline value after moxonidine treatment and during the follow-up with an additional reduction in body weight, plasma leptin levels and Body Mass Index (BMI) (p<0.01). Thus, moxonidine could be considered as a therapeutic option in obese patients with metabolic syndrome.
RESUMO
Chronic stable angina (CSA) is an incapacitating disorder. The pain can hinder the routine chores of an individual and significantly impact one’s quality of life (QoL). However, the good news is that this can be treated and the QoL can be improved. The key to apt management lies in the accurate early diagnosis of this condition, followed by a detailed evaluation and accordingly planned management, which should be regularly revised and be backed by an adequate follow-up. OPTA-OPtimal Treatment for chronic stable Angina-is an educational initiative to assist the clinicians in India with screening and diagnostic tools, strengthened by updated guideline-directed management to ensure satisfactory patient outcomes. OPTA aims to improve clinical outcomes by providing optimized pharmacotherapy for patients with stable angina. This expert consensus document intends to provide information for better understanding of the condition by clinicians and to ensure an early, accurate diagnosis, followed by optimal management of angina. For better clinical and practical understanding of Indian clinical scenario, the most commonly encountered patient profiles are briefly described here. These inputs and an extensive literature review were blended to develop the recommendations for clinicians across the country. An attempt is made to include clinical recommendations that meet the needs of the majority of patients in most circumstances in the Indian scenario. However, the ultimate judgment regarding individual case management should be based on clinician’s discretion. This expert consensus document is not a substitute for textbooks and/or a clinical judgment.