Haemodynamic Influences of Bisoprolol in Hypertensive Middle-Aged Men: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over Study

Treatment with beta-blockers appears to show inferior reduction in central versus peripheral blood pressure. We aimed to examine simultaneous changes in central and peripheral blood pressure, vascular resistance, cardiac function and arterial stiffness during beta-blockade. Haemodynamics were investigated after 3 weeks of bisoprolol treatment (5 mg/day) in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over trial in never-treated 16 Caucasian males with grade I-II primary hypertension using continuous tonometric pulse wave analysis and whole-body impedance cardiography. Bisoprolol decreased radial (134/80 versus 144/89 mmHg) and aortic blood pressure (122/80 versus 130/90 mmHg) and heart rate (57 versus 68 beats/min) when compared with placebo (p < 0.05 for all). Ejection duration (336 versus 316 ms) and stroke volume (109 versus 98 ml) were increased (p < 0.01 for all), while cardiac output was not significantly changed (6.2 versus 6.6 l/min). Bisoprolol decreased pulse wave velocity (7.8 versus 8.9 m/s, p < 0.001), but after adjustment for blood pressure, the decrease was not significant (8.16 versus 8.52 m/s, p = 0.464). The treatment reduced pulse pressure amplification from central to peripheral circulation (30 versus 38%, p = 0.002). No differences were observed in systemic vascular resistance, augmentation index, aortic characteristic impedance or total arterial stiffness after bisoprolol versus placebo. Bisoprolol decreased central and peripheral blood pressure and pulse wave velocity in male individuals with grade I to grade II hypertension. The decrease in pulse wave velocity was related to the antihypertensive effect. Reduced pulse pressure amplification indicates that peripheral blood pressure was reduced more efficiently than central blood pressure.