Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry - Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents) - Volume 4, Issue 1, 2006

Cardiac side effects of the cytostatic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) have an incidence of 1.2 - 7.6%. Potentially, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death could occur. Life-threatening cardiotoxicity is rarely observed with a frequency <1%. Cardiotoxicity of 5-FU seems to differ from well known effects of other cytostatics, e.g., anthracyclines. Myocardial ischemia was suggested as potential mechanism due to oc Read More

Identifying the genetic predictors of the therapeutic response to drugs is the role of pharmacogenomics. Although polymorphisms in several genes have been associated with the blood pressure response to diuretics, β-blockers and ACE-inhibitors, the pharmacogenomics of essential hypertension is still attempting to find satisfactory scientific evidence to be translated into clinical practice. The main reasons for this ap Read More

The initial realization that agents containing an imidazoline structure may interact with a distinct class of receptors, has led to a major class of cardiovascular agents, which now has the potential to enter a third generation. There is now general acceptance that there are three main imidazoline receptor classes, the I1 imidazoline receptor which mediates the sympatho-inhibitory actions to lower blood pressure, the I2 Read More

Monoclonal antibodies are a new class of agents targeted at specific receptors on cancer cells. In addition to direct cellular effects, antibodies can carry substances to the targeted cells, such as radioactive isotopes, toxins, and antineoplastic agents. At present monoclonal antibodies, directed against both lymphoid antigens (CD 20 and CD 52) and a myeloid antigen (CD33) are available for clinical use. In ALL, rituximab, a huma Read More

In pulmonary hypertension (PH), thrombosis and thromboembolism may occur as primary events associated with inherited or acquired thrombophilia. Alternatively, in situ thrombosis may develop as a complication of pre-existing vasculopathy as in the case of idiopathic PH and related disorders (so called pulmonary arterial hypertension). In these disorders, a number of abnormalities has been described involvin Read More

Endogenous Ouabain (EO) and Adducin enhance the Na-K pump function and play an important role in sodium homeostasis and blood pressure (BP) regulation. In the general population, plasma EO modulates BP either by inhibiting the prohypertensive effect of an excessive salt intake or counteracting the depressor action of normal-moderate salt intake. Almost 50% of hypertensive patients have increased circulating plas Read More

Angiotensin receptor blockers are the newest class of antihypertensive agents marketed for the treatment of hypertension. There is now an important amount of evidence indicating that this class of drugs exerts beneficial effects in patients with a variety of cardiovascular disorders. Evidence-based medicine includes well controlled studies with mortality and morbidity endpoints in patients with left ventricular dysfunct Read More

Over the last decade a wealth of studies have shed new light on the role of aldosterone in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. It is now evident that in addition to its classical role in increasing sodium reabsorbtion in the kidney , aldosterone also exhibits several nonepithelial effects such as the induction of inflammation, fibrosis and necrosis in various organs. Herein we review the experimental evidences for the prot Read More