[Preventing of stroke by antihypertensive drugs: potential and limitations].

Analysis of controlled randomized studies of efficacy of antihypertensive drugs in primary and secondary prevention of stroke is presented. Basing on this analysis a conclusion is made that in patients with hypertension representatives of all 4 main classes of antihypertensive drugs prevent stroke with similar efficacy. Magnitude of reduction of risk of both first and recurrent stroke is determined not by the class of a drug but by degree of blood pressure lowering. Special emphasis is made on necessity of careful approach to blood pressure lowering in elderly patients.