Comparison of the effects of propranolol and labetalol on renal haemodynamics at rest and during exercise in essential hypertension

Summary The effect of exercise on renal haemodynamics was examined in young patients with mild essential hypertension. Four groups of subjects were studied: 13 normotensive, healthy control subjects, and 15 untreated, 11 propranolol-treated, and 6 labetalol-treated patients. Renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were measured during four consecutive periods, a pre-exercise control period, two exercise periods with loads of 450 kpm/min and 600 kpm/min, respectively, and a post-exercise control period. In the untreated patients RPF and GFR were lower during exercise than in the normotensive control subjects, whereas no significant differences were found at rest. In the propranolol-treated patients the reduction in RPF and GFR during exercise was more pronounced than in the untreated hypertensives. In the labetalol-treated patients however, RPF and GFR were reduced only to the same degree as in the untreated hypertensives. The reduced renal blood flow in propranolol-treated patients may be attributed to a compensatory increase in sympathetic activity caused by an impaired cardiac response to exercise. The lack of reduction in renal blood flow during labetalol therapy could partly be related to alpha-adrenergic blockade in the renal vascular bed induced by labetalol, and partly to the smaller reduction in cardiac output during labetalol than during propranolol therapy.