Effects of bisoprolol on blood pressure, serum lipids and HDL-cholesterol in essential hypertension.

Fifty patients with essential hypertension WHO Grades I-II have been treated for 3 months with bisoprolol, a new selective beta blocker, in doses up to 40 mg once daily. Forty-three patients reached the preset target diastolic blood pressure of less than or equal to 90 mmHg on a mean daily dose of 16.8 mg bisoprolol. There was no effect on serum lipids and HDL-cholesterol during the study. The side-effects were mild and were those usually associated with beta-blocking therapy.