[Pharmacokinetic comparison of propranolol and atenolol in people with primary hypertension].

The influence of primary hyperlipidemia on the pharmacokinetics of lipophilic propranolol and hydrophilic atenolol was studied. Thirty patients with hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and mixed hyperlipidemia and healthy subjects were enrolled. A single dose of 80 mg propranolol or 100 mg atenolol was administered orally using a cross-over study design. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated according to the noncompartmental open model. The results reflect the general tendency to altered pharmacokinetics of lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs in patients with disorders of lipid metabolism. In the case of lipophilic propranolol, the most pronounced changes were observed in mixed hyperlipidemia, with a tendency to reduced steady state distribution volume, decrease in the elimination rate constant and total body clearance. In conclusion, the present study revealed an influence of lipid disorders on the pharmacokinetics of beta-blockers, with the most significant alterations seen in mixed hyperlipidemia. The dosage of beta-blockers should be modified in patients with an abnormal lipid profile in serum.