Prolactin, renin, growth hormone, lipoproteins and glucose under guanfacine treatment.

The effect of short-term (6 weeks) and long-term (7 years) guanfacine treatment on some metabolic and endocrine parameters was studied in patients with moderate hypertension. Short-term treatment decreased blood pressure and heart rate, and also produced a significant fall in urinary excretion of noradrenalin and prolactin. Long-term treatment, in addition, produced a progressive decrease in prolactin, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, but did not change growth hormone levels and oral glucose tolerance test. The decreased mortality and morbidity which was observed under guanfacine treatment may depend not only on important antihypertensive activity of guanfacine, but also on its beneficial effect on known cardiovascular risk factors.