The short term effects of oral labetalol in patients with chronic renal disease and hypertension.

This double-blind, controlled, crossover study compared the effects on blood pressure control, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) of labetalol, methyldopa and placebo in patients with chronic renal disease and hypertension. When compared with placebo, BP was significantly lower during treatment with both labetalol and methyldopa (P greater than 0.05) but did not differ significantly between the two active treatment periods; post-exercise heart rates were also significantly lower on labetalol than placebo (P less than 0.05). After treatment with labetalol, ERPF was significantly greater than with the placebo (P less than 0.05) but did not differ significantly between the active treatments. GFR did not differ significantly between the three groups. No significant differences were observed in haematology or liver function test results on labetalol compared with placebo. Labetalol is a safe and effective antihypertensive in patients with hypertension associated with chronic renal disease. In the short term it leads to an increase in ERPF which may be beneficial for such patients.