Ketanserin in the treatment of mild hypertension in elderly patients: preliminary results of a controlled double-blind trial.

Thirty elderly patients (mean age 77.5 years) with mild hypertension were considered for a double-blind trial comparing the effects of ketanserin and propranolol. After 28 days of placebo, a group of 15 patients was given ketanserin at the daily dose of 20 mg twice daily for 15 days and of 40 mg twice daily for the subsequent 75 days, while the other group of 15 patients was given propranolol for 90 days at the dose of 80 mg twice daily. Blood pressure and pulse rate in the supine and standing positions were evaluated every 15 days. After the beginning of treatment with ketanserin there was a gradual but highly significant decrease of the systolic and diastolic blood pressure values. No relevant side-effects or significant biochemical alterations were observed during treatment with ketanserin.