Treatment of essential hypertension: changes in blood pressure echocardiography and electrocardiography on three therapeutic regimes

• Published in: European journal of clinical pharmacology 1985, Vol.28 (2), p.119-124
• Main Authors: RUSSELL, G. I, POHL, J. E. F, BALDWIN, J, BING, R. F, HEAGERTY, A. M, THURSTON, H, SWALES, J. D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antihypertensive agents; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Cardiomegaly - physiopathology; Cardiovascular system; Drug Administration Schedule; Echocardiography; Electrocardiography; Humans; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - physiopathology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Random Allocation; Vasodilator Agents - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0031-6970; 1432-1041
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00609677

Forty-three patients with essential hypertension were randomly allocated to one of the following treatment regimes; - atenolol, atenolol and hydralazine or methyl dopa. Blood pressure fell into the normal range at 3 months and was similar in all 3 groups. Blood pressure remained controlled over the period of study. M-mode echocardiography was assessed initially, at 3, 6 and 12 months. All groups showed a fall in the measured indices towards the normal range with a significant reduction in left ventricular wall thickness at 3 months in the methyl dopa group and left ventricular mass in the atenolol group alone of 6 months. In conclusion, no one treatment regime appeared to have sustained advantages over another and none of the groups showed any deterioration on echocardiographic criteria during the study.