The role of spironolactone in the treatment of patients with refractory hypertension.

Background: Hypertension is resistant to pharmacologic therapy in 5% to 10% of patients. The current study tested whether addition of spironolactone to the treatment of patients with refractory hypertension would lead to adequate blood pressure (BP) control.

Methods: Among 520 patients who were referred for treatment of hypertension to one medical clinic from 1997 to 1999, a total of 25 patients who met the inclusion criteria of refractory hypertension were prospectively included in this study.