FROM ALPHA(2)-ADRENOCEPTORS TO IMIDAZOLINE RECEPTORS - PUTATIVE PROGRESS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY

Novel centrally acting antihypertensive agents such as moxonidine and rilmenidine have been used in the treatment of hypertension. This report discusses their mechanism of action compared with that of their predecessor clonidine and their behavior toward cardiovascular risk factors such as cardiac hypertrophy and alterations of lipid and glucose metabolism. Data indicate that moxonidine treatment reverses cardiac hypertrophy in hypertensive patients and behaves neutrally toward plasma lipids and glucose; more intensive studies regarding these parameters are necessary and are now under way. Finally, we discuss whether drugs such as moxonidine might have beneficial effects in other cardiovascular disease states such as congestive heart failure.