Glucose, insulin, and lipid metabolism in doxazosin-treated patients with hypertension.

The metabolic changes associated with doxazosin treatment of hypertension were evaluated in ten patients with mild hypertension (mean +/- SEM = 150 +/- 3/100 +/- 1 mm Hg) and a plasma triglyceride (TG) concentration > 1.50 mmol/L. The blood pressure was lower after 4 to 6 months of doxazosin treatment (mean +/- SEM = 134 +/- 4/87 +/- 1 mm Hg), which was also associated with a significantly lower plasma insulin response to a 75 g oral glucose load, and lower plasma TG and cholesterol concentrations. In addition, insulin-mediated glucose uptake was significantly greater after doxazosin treatment. These data suggest that doxazosin treatment of patients with mild hypertension is associated with changes in insulin and lipid metabolism that should decrease the risk of coronary heart disease.