Controlled clinical trial of cadralazine as a second-step drug in the treatment of hypertension

• Published in: European journal of clinical pharmacology 1985-01, Vol.28 (2), p.135-138
• Main Authors: CATALANO, M, PARINI, J, ROMANO, M, LIBRETTI, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antihypertensive agents; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Atenolol - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Cardiovascular system; Chlorthalidone - therapeutic use; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heart Rate - drug effects; Humans; Hypertension - drug therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pyridazines - adverse effects; Pyridazines - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0031-6970; 1432-1041
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00609680

The antihypertensive efficacy of a new long-lasting vasodilator, cadralazine, and the diuretic chlorthalidone have been compared in hypertensive patients receiving concurrent treatment with atenolol. After a 4-week run-in period with atenolol alone 100 mg/day, two groups of 10 patients whose diastolic blood pressure exceeded 100 mm Hg were given for a period of 65 days either cadralazine 15 mg/day or chlorthalidone 25 mg/day, according to a randomized, double-blind, between-patients design. Compared to atenolol alone, both cadralazine and chlorthalidone induced a statistically and clinically significant decrease in blood pressure. The antihypertensive effect did not differ significantly between groups. Good compensation of the atenolol-induced decrease in heart rate was obtained with cadralazine, whereas during atenolol + chlorthalidone treatment at times the standing heart rate was significantly lower than during treatment with atenolol + cadralazine. Side-effects, many of which were already present during atenolol treatment, occurred with a similar frequency in both groups. It is concluded that atenolol + cadralazine and atenolol + chlorthalidone are equally well tolerated, acceptable and effective in the treatment of hypertension, but that further studies are warranted to explore the potential haemodynamic advantages of the cadralazine + atenolol combination.