Haemodynamic effects of pindolol in essential hypertension with special reference to resistance vessels in the forearm during maximal vasodilatation.

Eleven patients, mean age 45 years, with previously untreated hypertension (WHO stage I) were treated over 16 months with pindolol in dosages of 5-30 mg/day. The effects on blood pressure and peripheral vascular resistance (PR) were studied before and after 2 and 16 months of treatment. Recordings were performed at rest, and after maximal vasodilatation obtained by ischaemic work to exhaustion with a hand-ergometer. Blood pressure was significantly reduced after both 2 and 16 months of treatment (P < 0.001). During treatment small reductions in heart rate were seen at rest but not after maximal vasodilatation (P < 0.02 and NS, respectively). At rest there was a great variability and no significant changes in PR. Peripheral vascular resistance after maximal vasodilatation was significantly reduced after both 2 and 16 months of treatment (P < 0.005 and P < 0.01, respectively). We conclude that long-term treatment with pindolol may give a regression of structural vascular changes.