Lipid and apolipoprotein levels during therapy with pinacidil combined with hydrochlorothiazide.

This study determined the effect of pinacidil on the concentration of plasma lipids and apolipoproteins in male patients previously equilibrated with 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide twice daily. Pinacidil therapy given to 52 hypertensives at 25 to 100 mg daily for 8 weeks resulted in a reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressure concurrently to reductions in plasma cholesterol and triglycerides with no change in low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). There was an associated decrease in apolipoproteins (Apo)B, C-III and E and elevation in ApoA-I. A parallel placebo group of 44 patients experienced reduction in diastolic blood pressure and an elevation in ApoA-I. These changes indicate that pinacidil will be a useful antihypertensive agent having properties on lipoprotein metabolism which would favor decreased risks of atherosclerosis.