Intravenous diazoxide in acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Twenty-six patients with hypertension secondary to acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis were treated by the rapid intravenous infusion of diazoxide. The average pretreatment systolic pressure was 159 mm Hg. Five minutes after administration, the average systolic pressure was 122 mm Hg (a 23% reduction). The average initial diastolic pressure was 104 mm Hg, which fell 5 minutes after diazoxide injection to 71 mm Hg (a 32% reduction). No hypotensive episodes were noted. Occasional episodes of nausea occurred. Concentrations of blood glucose increased after administration of diazoxide; however, no values were above 155 mg/dl. Diazoxide appears to be a safe antihypertensive drug that is effective in the treatment of hypertension secondary to acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.