Lipid profile improvement following celiprolol.

Many beta-blockers adversely affect serum lipid levels. We have, therefore, monitored blood pressure and serum lipids in 22 patients (mean age: 42.5 years) with essential hypertension (WHO stages I-II) who were treated with celiprolol for 4 weeks, and in 12 patients (mean age: 39.8 years) with essential hypertension (WHO stages I-II) who received celiprolol for 12 months. Standing blood pressure was significantly reduced after 4 weeks and 12 months of treatment, and there were slight decreases in serum cholesterol. In addition, serum triglyceride levels decreased significantly after 4 weeks, and there was a smaller decrease in the patients treated for 12 months. The pathologically elevated pre-treatment lipid values were, therefore, reduced to levels within the normal range. Analysis by lipid electrophoresis showed an increase in the high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction and a decrease in both the low density lipoprotein (LDL) fraction and the LDL/HDL ratio. During the long-term study there was also a significant reduction in serum fibrinogen. Our results show that celiprolol does not adversely alter serum lipids, and it may even have a beneficial effect on these variables.