Effects of dilevalol on rest and supine exercise hemodynamics in mild to moderate systemic hypertension.

Eight mildly to moderately hypertensive subjects free of any antihypertensive medications and on a normal salt diet performed maximal supine arm exercise. Before starting the exercise, a right-sided cardiac catheterization was performed to measure hemodynamic parameters before and during exercise. All patients had normal increases in cardiac output for the level of exercise performed and the peripheral vascular resistance diminished appropriately. An increase in the right atrial and pulmonary artery wedge pressures during exercise could be explained by increased venous return. After the baseline testing, rest and exercise hemodynamics were repeated 2 hours after the administration of 400 mg of dilevalol, a new beta blocker. For the next 2 weeks the patients received 400 mg of the study drug twice a day, with repeat studies obtained thereafter. As with other beta blockers, dilevalol decreases the heart rate and cardiac output on exercise, but, in addition, it induces a decrease in the resting systemic vascular resistance. This action is similar to its isomer, labetalol.