[Efficacy of monotherapy with 15 antihypertensive agents in treating essential hypertension assessed by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the monotherapy of 15 agents in treating essential hypertension.

Methods: After 2-week wash-out, a total of 370 patients with seated diastolic blood pressure 95-114 mmHg and seated systolic blood pressure < 180 mmHg were randomized to different therapeutic groups. 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed before medication and at the end of 8 weeks.

Result: All the agents significantly reduced the 24 hour mean blood pressures after treatment except doxazosin, terazosin, and torasemide.

Conclusion: The result suggested that the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta-blockers and long-acting calcium antagonists were effective in treating essential hypertension, while the low-dose doxazosin, terazosin and torasemide can be used for combination therapy but not for monotherapy.