[Introduction of adrenergic beta-blockers into medical therapy].

Introduction of adrenergic beta-blockers into medical therapy is an exceptionally good example of how a clear scientific background and a perfect knowledge about physiological and pathophysiological functions may help to plan and accomplish a pharmacological investigation in order to introduce new drugs. Several scientific contributions have helped development of adrenergic beta-blockers: R. Ahlquist with his discovery of adrenergic beta-receptors, U.von Euler with the discovery of the adrenergic neurotransmitter noradrenaline, J. Axelrod with the discovery of catecholamine metabolism, E. Sutherland with the discovery of the molecular nechanism of beta-receptor functioning, and last, but not least, Sir James Black with the discovery and successfull introduction of first adrenergic beta-blockers into medical therapy. Except R. Ahlquist, all others were awarded the Nobel prizes in Physiology or Medicine. Beta-blockers are among the most significant contributions to modern pharmacotherapy. If nothing spectacular happens during the next several yearx of this century, then the adrenergic beta-blockers will remain among the top ten pharmacological discoveries in the 20th century. This Pharmacotherapeutic Symposium on Beta-Blockers shows the achievements in clinical application of adrenergic beta-blockers in various Medical specialities during the last 10 years.