[Effects of antihypertensive therapy with selective and non-selective beta blocking agents on dimensions and function of the left ventricle].

The influence of cardioselectivity and/or intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA) of betablockers on hemodynamic antihypertensive effect and on left ventricular (LV) dimensions and function was studied by echocardiography in 72 hypertensive patients, mean age 43 years. After 15 days of placebo, active therapy was given for 1 month: acebutolol (ACEB, n: 16, 400-800 mg/day), atenolol (ATEN, n: 16, 50-100 mg/day), pindolol (PIND, n: 13, 15-30 mg/day), timolol (TIMO, n: 15, 10-20 mg/day) and nadolol (NADO, n: 12, 80-160 mg/day). All betablockers showed effective antihypertensive activity. Betablockers without ISA (ATEN, TIMO, NADO) reduced cardiac output (p less than 0.05), those with ISA (ACEB, PIND) decreased total peripheral resistance (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05 respectively). Independently from ISA, cardioselective betablockers (ATEN, ACEB) increased LV end diastolic dimension and stroke volume (p less than 0.05). LV mass was not changed, although interventricular septum thickness decreased after TIMO and NADO (p less than 0.05). LV function, as assessed by fractional shortening, was not impaired by any betablocker.