EFFECT OF CELIPROLOL ON 24-HOUR AMBULATORY BLOOD-PRESSURE AND HEMODYNAMICS IN PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

Celiprolol is a selective beta,-antagonist with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity. The effects of celiprolol on ambulatory blood pressure during daily activity and its hemodynamic effects at rest were investigated in 11 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Patients who had been weaned from all other medications for 4 weeks were treated with celiprolol 200 mg once daily for 4 to 6 weeks, followed by an increased dose of 400 mg daily for 12 to 14 weeks. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was monitored using a portable, automatic, noninvasive device. Blood pressures measured during clinic visits and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressures were reduced significantly (P less-than-or-equal-to 0.01) by celiprolol treatment. Significant decreases in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure were recorded when patients were awake but not during sleep. Mean heart rate decreased when patients were awake but increased during sleep. There was a significant change in total peripheral resistance (P less-than-or-equal-to 0.01) but not cardiac output at rest. Celiprolol reduced blood pressure when patients were awake rather than during sleep and did not obviously affect the variability of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure. Because celiprolol produced its antihypertensive effect by reducing total peripheral resistance without decreasing cardiac output, it may have an advantage in the treatment of patients with essential hypertension.