Ketanserin in parenteral treatment of acute essential hypertension: a dose-response curve.

This study assesses the efficacy, safety, and dose-response curve of ketanserin, according to parenteral routes of administration, in the treatment of acute severe essential hypertension. We studied 50 patients with supine diastolic blood pressure (SDBP) phase V greater than or equal to 110 mm Hg after 2 h of continuous BP monitoring. Ketanserin was administered as follows: 5 mg i.m. (Group I: SDBP X = 115.7 mm Hg); 10 mg i.m. (Group II: SDBP X = 119.0 mm Hg); 5 mg i.v. (Group III: SDBP X = 123.9 mm Hg); and 10 mg i.v. (Group IV: SDBP X = 130.8 mm Hg), according to initial severity of symptoms and BP. All patients were monitored, and most of them were on antihypertensive treatment. [Total group mean age: 57.9 years (range: 38-78 years)]. There were 35 men and 15 women. Systolic BP fell progressively, from a mean of 177.9 mm Hg (basal) to 156.4 mm Hg at 60 min postadministration (Group I), p less than 0.01; from 188 to 164 mm Hg (Group II), p less than 0.05; from 192.1 to 157.9 mm Hg (Group III), p less than 0.01; and from 207.5 to 168.3 mm Hg (Group IV), p less than 0.01). SDBP decreased from a basal mean value of 115.7 to 92.1 mm Hg at 60 min (Group I), p less than 0.01; from 119.0 to 98 mm Hg (Group II), p less than 0.05; from 123.9 to 101.6 mm Hg (Group III), p less than 0.01; and from 130.8 to 105.8 mm Hg (Group IV), p less than 0.01. Heart rate decreased slightly in all groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)