Plasma lipid fractions during bopindolol treatment in hypertensive patients.

The influence of bopindolol monotherapy on blood pressure and plasma lipid fractions was investigated in 24 hypertensive patients. Bopindolol lowered blood pressure and heart rate significantly. When compared with placebo, no changes were found in the plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Plasma triglycerides were significantly increased after 4 and 8 weeks but not after 12 weeks of bopindolol. It is concluded that bopindolol is an effective and well tolerated beta blocker in hypertensive patients. That it does not lower HDL cholesterol could be a potential advantage.