Changes in blood pressure, fluid volumes and glomerular filtration rate during long-term treatment with prizidilol, an antihypertensive drug with combined vasodilatator and beta-adrenoceptor blocking actions

The long term effects on blood pressure, body fluid volumes, glomerular filtration rate and plasma renin concentration were studied in 11 patients with essential hypertension during treatment with prizidilol, which is an antihypertensive compound with combined vasodilatator and beta-adrenoceptor blocking actions. After the patients had been treated for four weeks with placebo, the active treatment was given for 12 weeks. Prizidilol reduced both supine and erect blood pressure by 26/14 mmHg (p less than 0.01) and 24/16 mmHg (p less than 0.01) respectively, without inducing significant changes in heart rate. Plasma volume increased significantly by eight percent (p less than 0.02), whereas the increase in extracellular fluid volume was insignificant. Glomerular filtration rate decreased by 4 ml/min./1.73 m2 (p less than 0.02). Plasma renin concentration was unchanged. Prizidilol was tolerated well, but six patients developed oedema and gained weight, which necessitated addition of diuretics in three patients.