Does eplerenone have a future in the management of hypertension in Europe?

Eplerenone (Inspra, Pfizer, New York, USA), a 9,11-epoxy derivative of spironolactone, is the secondaldosterone antagonist commercially available forthe present time. In the USA, it received Food andDrug Administration approval in September 2002for the treatment of hypertension, and in July 2003for post-myocardial infarction congestive heartfailure.The medical profession has been looking forwardto this new inhibitor of aldosterone receptors asit appears to present significantly fewer adverseeffects than does spironolactone, owing to a moreselective binding to the mineralocorticoid receptor.