A long-term study of the effects of celiprolol on blood pressure and lipid-associated risk factors.

In a 12-month study of 12 patients with essential hypertension treated with once-daily celiprolol, 200 mg, mean supine blood pressure was reduced from 162/102 to 134/84 mm Hg (p less than 0.005)and standing pressures from 155/101 to 134/88 mm Hg (p less than 0.05). Similarly, heart rate fell from 83 to 71 beats/min in the supine position and from 90 to 79 beats/min in the standing position. Serum cholesterol level also fell from 5.35 to 4.78 mmol/L (p less than 0.01) and was accompanied by a nonsignificant loss of body weight. Lipid electrophoresis showed a nonsignificant increase in the high-density lipid fraction, from 1.2 to 1.7 mmol/L, and a significant decrease in the low-density lipid fraction, from 3.4 to 2.7 mmol/L (p less than 0.01). Serum triglyceride levels also decreased from 1.85 to 1.37 mmol/L (p less than 0.02), and low-density lipid-high-density lipid ratio fell from 3.29 to 2.03 (p less than 0.02). There was an unexpected reduction in serum fibrinogen levels, from 288 to 253 mg/dl (p less than 0.01). Aside from a slight reduction in the fasting blood glucose, there were no other significant changes in the urine or blood parameters, and no adverse drug effects occurred. It is likely that celiprolol's effect in reducing fibrinogen levels may minimize the increase in blood viscosity associated with the hypertensive state, whereas its effects on fibrinogen may herald a reduction in hypertensive complications such as thrombosis or retinal "cotton wool exudates." This warrants further investigation."