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.