The effect of celiprolol on the blood lipid profile in hypertensive patients with high cholesterol levels.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of chronic antihypertensive therapy with either celiprolol or atenolol on plasma lipids in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Forty-six patients with essential hypertension and a total cholesterol (TC) concentration greater than 220 mg/dl were studied. After 1 month on placebo, patients were stratified into five classes on the basis of their plasma TC levels and then randomized to receive atenolol 100 mg/day or celiprolol 400 mg/day for 1 year. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and blood samples for evaluation of TC, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) were taken before and after the placebo period, and every 6 months from the beginning of the active treatment. Celiprolol and atenolol caused similar reduction in BP. Both atenolol and celiprolol decreased TC. Atenolol significantly reduced HDL-C, while celiprolol increased it (p less than 0.01 at 12 months), and the difference between the two drugs was statistically significant in this regard. LDL-C levels were not significantly affected by atenolol, but were progressively reduced by celiprolol (p less than 0.05 at 6 months, p less than 0.01 at 12 months). TG rose under atenolol but was reduced by celiprolol (p less than 0.05). The results of this study show that the celiprolol-induced changes in plasma lipids may be favorable and suggest that, in hypertensive patients with high cholesterol levels, beta-blocker therapy with celiprolol may be effective in lowering BP without worsening the lipid profile.