PILOT-STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF BETAXOLOL ON RENAL HEMODYNAMICS AND FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH RENAL-HYPERTENSION

The influence of betaxolol (20 mg) on the renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate and electrolyte elimination was studied in 8 hypertensive patients with glomerulonephritis (3) or interstitial nephritis (5). Starting on the third day of betaxolol therapy the IN-group tended to show a greater decrease in diastolic blood pressure than the GN-group. This greater decrease was sustained throughout the course of therapy. In all eight hypertensive patients (5 patients with IN, 3 patients with GN, serum creatinine 1.5-3 mg%) there was an increase in the GFR, the ERPF and the RBF with simultaneous reduction in the renal vascular resistance. The 5 patients in the IN-group showed an increase in natriuresis in the initial days of treatment that clearly declined during the following weeks of treatment. Consequently, betaxolol probably not only acts to lower the systemic blood pressure but also exerts an effect on renal function and hemodynamics.