Method for evaluating and treating hypertension

Abstract

The Laragh Method is a novel method useful for evaluating and treating hypertensive patients. The Laragh Method provides a systematic approach for the physician to use volume vasoconstriction information with entry and induced changes in blood pressure and in ambulatory plasma renin levels for the rational selection of treatment tailored to suit each individual hypertensive patient. The Laragh Method provides a systematic and rational approach to drug selection which greatly improves the therapeutic success rate among hypertensive patients and which for the large majority provides long-term blood pressure control with one drug instead of two or two instead of three with each drug rationally targeted to control the renin and / or volume elements in the blood pressure equation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to new and useful methods for the evaluation and treatment of hypertension. BACKGROUND INFORMATION [0002] Hypertension is a sustained elevation of blood pressure that can lead to heart attack, heart or kidney failure, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension affects about 20% of the population worldwide. A major problem is that the current methods that are widely used for the detection and treatment of hypertension are inadequate and result in enormous personal suffering and economic costs. The Economic Costs of Hypertension [0003] The 1999 Annual Report of the American Heart Association estimates the direct cost of hypertension in the United States to be $26.1 billion annually, plus an additional $11.1 billion in indirect costs arising from lost productivity due to morbidity and mortality (Table 1). Moreover, the link between hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases has become increasingly evident. T...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention discussed herein provides novel methods or systems—the Laragh Method—for evaluating and treating hypertensive patients. The Laragh Method provides a systematic approach that allows physicians and other health care providers to select the appropriate treatment, tailored to suit each individual hypertensive patient. The Laragh Method greatly improves the therapeutic success rate among hypertensive patients and uses more rational drug selection as compared to the traditional, empirical “stepped care” approach.

Problems solved by technology

The stepped care approach is conceptually flawed because it fails to recognize the heterogeneity of biochemical mechanisms involved among different hypertensive patients.

Just as fever cannot be appropriately treated with a single recipe, neither should hypertension.