[Role of a beta adrenergic blocking agent nadolol (corgard) in prevention of arterial hypertension: a 6-month treatment (cooperative study)].

A comparative study was undertaken to examine the long-acting beta-blocker nadolol without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity and reference agents such as anapriline, a beta-blocker, hypothiazide, a diuretic, and pratsiol, a postsynaptic alpha-adrenoblocker in 361 patients with sustained arterial hypertension (diastolic blood pressure, 95 mm Hg or more) in the randomized groups. The therapy was started with monotherapy of one of these drugs; if ineffective, a combination of two or, if necessary, three agents of different groups was given. The patients' status was monitored at least once monthly for 6 months. Monotherapy with beta-blockers or pratsiol was found to be more effective than that with diuretics. Addition of the second agent was required by 48% of the patients, that of the third agent, by 13%. Nadolol in combination with diuretics and/or pratsiol showed the same effects as did anapriline. The agent possessed a more pronounced negative chronotropic action than did anapriline when it was given alone or in combination. Nadolol caused a decrease in middle and small-sized bronchial patency as did anapriline. A 6-month nadolol therapy resulted in regression of left ventricular hypertrophy.