Vasodilators and regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. Hydralazine versus prazosin in hypertensive humans.

Long-term treatment of hypertensive rats with arterial vasodilators may further increase left ventricular hypertrophy. Since left ventricular hypertrophy may be an important determinant of outcome in hypertension, the long-term effects of arterial vasodilation with hydralazine on left ventricular mass and function were compared with those of an alternative third-line drug, the alpha1 blocker prazosin, in patients still hypertensive despite combined diuretic and beta blocker therapy. A single-blind, randomized, two-group parallel design was employed. Both treatments induced a sustained antihypertensive effect, with hydralazine showing more effect on supine blood pressure, and prazosin having more effect on standing pressure. Heart rate, cardiac output, and volume status showed only minor changes. Plasma norepinephrine showed a sustained increase when measured in both the supine and standing positions, but the increases were similar for the two treatments. Supine and standing plasma renin activity increased only during long-term treatment with hydralazine. Prazosin induced a progressive decrease in left ventricular mass over time (-34 +/- 15 g/m2 at 12 months), but hydralazine did not (-9 +/- 10 g/m2 after 12 months). Stepwise regression indicated that a decrease in systolic blood pressure was associated with a decrease in left ventricular mass with both treatments, but an increase in plasma norepinephrine was associated with an increase in left ventricular mass only with hydralazine, suggesting that increased sympathetic activity may affect left ventricular mass via cardiac alpha1 receptors. Thus, if regression of left ventricular hypertrophy is a worthwhile therapeutic goal, hydralazine and analogous arterial vasodilators are not drugs of choice.

Cardiovascular effects of indapamide in hypertensive patients with or without renal failure. A dose-response curve.

Fifteen patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension (10 with normal and five with decreased renal function) were studied after treatment with placebo and low (1 mg), intermediate (2.5 mg), and high (5.0 mg per day) doses of indapamide, each for four weeks. Six patients--five with normal renal function--were classified as nonresponders (decrease in diastolic blood pressure less than 5 mm Hg). The remaining nine patients had dose-related decreases in blood pressure. Patients with or without renal failure showed similar decreases in blood pressure. Blood pressure reduction was associated with a significant decrease in cardiac index in the responders at the highest dose, related to a decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic dimension and stroke volume, whereas heart rate did not increase. This apparent decrease in venous return was associated with a significant decrease in body weight but not plasma volume in the responders. Indapamide did not change plasma norepinephrine levels, but decreased pressor responsiveness to exogenous norepinephrine. Responders had lower initial plasma renin activity and a smaller absolute increase in plasma renin activity while receiving indapamide, whereas angiotensin II pressor responsiveness was decreased more. The results presented indicate that the blood pressure lowering effect of indapamide in the present patient population is observed with or without renal failure and is associated with a decrease in pressor reactivity. In nonresponders, compensatory mechanisms (e.g., renin) may negate the antihypertensive effect of indapamide.