Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Cardiovascular Agents Terms and Definitions

Cardiovascular Agents

Medical Definition:

Agents that affect the rate or intensity of cardiac contraction, blood vessel diameter, or blood volume.

Cardiovascular Agents Categories.

	Anti-Arrhythmia Agents - Agents used for the treatment or prevention of cardiac arrhythmias. They may affect the polarization-repolarization phase of the action potential, its excitability or refractoriness, or impulse conduction or membrane responsiveness within cardiac fibers. Anti-arrhythmia agents are often classed into four main groups according to their mechanism of action: sodium channel blockade, beta-adrenergic blockade, repolarization prolongation, or calcium channel blockade.
	Antihypertensive Agents - Drugs used in the treatment of acute or chronic hypertension regardless of pharmacological mechanism. Among the antihypertensive agents are DIURETICS (especially DIURETICS, THIAZIDE), ADRENERGIC BETA-ANTAGONISTS; ADRENERGIC ALPHA-ANTAGONISTS; ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME INHIBITORS; CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS; GANGLIONIC BLOCKERS; and VASODILATOR AGENTS.
	Calcium Channel Blockers - A class of drugs that act by selective inhibition of calcium influx through cell membranes or on the release and binding of calcium in intracellular pools. Since they are inducers of vascular and other smooth muscle relaxation, they are used in the drug therapy of hypertension and cerebrovascular spasms, as myocardial protective agents, and in the relaxation of uterine spasms.
	Cardioplegic Solutions - Solutions which, upon administration, will temporarily arrest cardiac activity. They are used in the performance of heart surgery.
	Cardiotonic Agents - Agents that have a strengthening effect on the heart or that can increase cardiac output. They may be CARDIAC GLYCOSIDES, SYMPATHOMIMETICS, or other drugs. They are used after MYOCARDIAL INFARCT, CARDIAC SURGICAL PROCEDURES, in SHOCK, or in congestive heart failure (HEART FAILURE, CONGESTIVE).
	Fibrinolytic Agents - Fibrinolysin or agents that convert plasminogen to fibrinolysin (PLASMIN).
	Nitric Oxide Donors - A diverse group of agents, with unique chemical structures and biochemical requirements, which generate NITRIC OXIDE. These compounds have been used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and the management of acute myocardial infarction, acute and chronic congestive heart failure, and surgical control of blood pressure. (Adv Pharmacol 1995;34:361-81)
	Potassium Channel Blockers - A class of drugs that act by inhibition of potassium efflux through cell membranes. Blockade of potassium channels prolongs the duration of ACTION POTENTIALS. They are used as ANTI-ARRHYTHMIA AGENTS and VASODILATOR AGENTS.
	Sclerosing Solutions - Chemical agents injected into veins to cause localized thrombosis and eventual fibrosis and obliteration of the vessels. They are used in the treatment of varicose veins, hemorrhoids, gastric and esophageal varices, and peptic ulcer hemorrhage.
	Sodium Channel Blockers - A class of drugs that act by inhibition of sodium influx through cell membranes. Blockade of sodium channels slows the rate and amplitude of initial rapid depolarization, reduces cell excitability, and reduces conduction velocity.
	Vasoconstrictor Agents - Drugs used to cause constriction of the blood vessels.
	Vasodilator Agents - Drugs used to cause dilation of the blood vessels.

Cardiovascular Agents Medical Definitions and Terms

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