What is the primary clinical use of hydralazine?

Hydralazine is primarily used for the management of severe hypertension. It is a direct vasodilator that works by relaxing the smooth muscles in the blood vessels, leading to vasodilation and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance. This effect results in a reduction of blood pressure, making hydralazine particularly effective in acute situations where rapid control of elevated blood pressure is needed, such as hypertensive emergencies or severe hypertension.

While hydralazine can also have applications in conditions such as heart failure, where it can help improve symptoms by reducing afterload on the heart, its most common and primary clinical use remains in controlling significantly high blood pressure. Angina management and diabetes control are not associated with the pharmacological action of hydralazine and are treated with other medications specifically designed for those conditions.