This unique volume records and interprets the revolutionary advances made in the understanding of hypertension during the twentieth century and provides pointers to the future. Many of the contributing authors are prominent participants in the major discoveries related to hypertension. This volume also draws together the different strands in the development of the subject: the scientific and clinical; the North American and European; the technological and the epidemiological. A particular focus is the clinical trial. The editors have encouraged controversial views, especially in the criticism directed towards the limitations of meta-analysis, the defects (and virtues) of the currently fashionable large clinical trials, and the sporadic disingenuous interpretation of some trials. This volume of the "Handbook of Hypertension" series also serves to bring together the key contents and concepts presented in the previous twenty-one volumes. It will set a firm foundation for future volumes that will together continue to provide a major reference work on this important health problem.

Table of Contents:
Foreword (W.H Birkenhager, J.L. Reid). Preface (W.H. Birkenhager, J.I.S. Robertson, A. Zanchetti). Part I. Blood pressure measurement. 1. History of blood pressure measurement from the pre-Riva-Rocci era to the twenty-first century (G. Parati, G. Mancia). Part II. Hypertension: in search of an etiology. 2. Looking at the kidney as a primary source: experimental and clinical aspects (W.H. Birkenhager, P.W. De Leeuw). 3. Considering "the mind" as a primary cause (B. Folkow). 4. Looking at the sympathetic nervous system as a primary source (M. Esler). 5. Looking at the adrenals as a primary source (M.G. Nicholls, A.M. Richards). Part III. Epidemiological approaches to hypertension. 6. Hypertension: the quantitative versus the qualitative approach (J.I.S. Robertson). 7. Hypertension as a risk factor: the Framingham contribution (W.B. Kannel). 8. Blood pressure: from systolic to diastolic and back to systolic values as guides to prognosis and treatment (A. Zanchetti). 9. Hemodynamic concepts of hypertension: cardiac output versus peripheral vascular resistance (P. Lund-Johansen). 10. Hemodynamic concepts of hypertension: from the Windkessel model to large artery compliance and wave reflections (M.E. Safar). Part IV. One or several hypertensions? 11. From familial to genetic hypertension (G. Bianchi, C. Barlassina). 12. Hypertension in the elderly: another type of hypertension (R.H. Fagard). 13. The metabolic syndrome: diabetes, obesity, and hypertension (L. Landsberg). 14. The renin system and hypertension (M.G. Nicholls, J.I.S. Robertson). 15. Secondary forms of hypertension (J.I.S. Robertson). Part V. Hypertension and cardiovascular disease. 16. Hypertension and the heart: from left ventricular hypertrophy to ischemia to congestive heart failure (E. Agabiti-Rosei, M.L. Muiesan). 17. Hypertension and the kidney: from renal origin to microalbuminuria (C. Campo, L.M. Ruilope). 18. Hypertension and the brain: from stroke to dementia (O. Hanon et al.). 19. Hypertension and blood vessels: from diagnosing vascular events to the assessment of endothelial dysfunction (L.E. Spieker, T.F. Luscher). Part VI. Treatment of hypertension. 20. Non-pharmacological management of hypertension: science, consensus and controversies (L.J. Beilin). 21. Development of antihypertensive drugs: from the bench to the clinic (P.A. van Zwieten). 22. Trials of antihypertensive drug treatment: the strange phenomenon of steadily improving studies yet regressive evaluation (J.I.S. Robertson). 23. Development of blood pressure lowering therapy: from trials to practice (J.P. Chalmers, N. Chapman). 24. Are there benefits from any antihypertensive agent additional to blood pressure lowering per se? (L. Hansson). 25. Tailoring antihypertensive therapy to the individual patient (N.M. Kaplan). Part VII. Envoi. 26. Writing about hypertension: literary deterioration in the twentieth century (J.I.S. Robertson). Index