This book brings together papers presented at an international symposium on centrally acting antihypertensive agents held in Geneva, Switzerland, in association with the 10th Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension. A major focus of this symposium was the sympatholytic agent, clonidine, and was partly stimulated by the re cent development of an innovative transdermal system for administering this antihyper tensive drug. Although clonidine has been available to clinicians for several years, there has been a re cent reawakening of interest in this type of medication. The centrally-acting antihyper tensive agents appear to be effective both as monotherapy and in combination with other drugs. There are no significant contraindications to their use, and they do not appear to produce metabolic side effects. In this symposium we have paid attention to two types of patients: those with uncomplicated mild hypertension, and those with more difficult forms of hypertension associated with concurrent conditions.

Cardiovascular and Neurohumoral Effects of Long-Term Oral Clonidine Monotherapy in Essential Hypertensive Patients

Alpha-Adrenoceptor Density and Clonidine
Transdermal Clonidine in Elderly Patients with Mild Hypertension: Effects on Blood Pressure and Plasma Catecholamines
Effects of Catapres-TTS on Cerebral Blood Flow in Elderly Hypertensive Patients
Discussion
Lipid Metabolism and Antihypertensive Treatment
Diabetes and Hypertension: Clonidine Monotherapy
The Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System in the Control of Left Ventricular Mass in Hypertension
Discussion
Clonidine Transdermal Delivery System: Cutaneous Toxicity Studies
Transdermal Clonidine in Essential Hypertension: Problems During Long-Term Treatment
Discussion
Low Dose Oral and Transdermal Application of Clonidine in Mild Hypertension: Hemodynamic and Biochemical Correlates
Regression of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Nineteen Hypertensive Patients Treated with Clonidine for Eighteen Months: A Prospective Study
Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics of Oral and Transdermal Clonidine in Chronic Renal Insufficiency
A Multicenter Study on the Use of Transdermal Clonidine in Patients with Essential Hypertension
Antihypertensive Action of Catapres-TTS
Discussion
Catapres Transdermal Therapeutic System (TTS) for Long-Term Treatment of Hypertension
Transdermal Clonidine/Atenolol in the Management of Mild to Moderate Hypertension
Structure and Function of Catapres-TTS
Interaction of Clonidine and Beta Blocking Agents in the Treatment of Essential Hypertension
Catapres-TTS Monotherapy for the Treatment of Mild Hypertension in General Practice: A Preliminary Report
Clonidine and Placental Perfusion
Effects of Low Oral Clonidine Doses in the Therapy of Mild Hypertension
Absorption and Excretion of Clonidine Following Application of Catapres-TTS to Different Skin Sites
?-Blockers or Clonidine in Antihypertensive Therapy?
Pharmacokinetics of Transdermally Delivered Clonidine
Discussion
Author Index.