Haemodynamic effects of an antihypertensive diuretic substance on the forearm circulation of patients with essential hypertension.

Vascular resistance, arterial compliance and venous tone of the forearm were determined using plethysmographic and Doppler techniques in patients with sustained essential hypertension before and after administration of a new antihypertensive agent with low diuretic effect, cicletanine. After 1 week of treatment, no significant change in the haemodynamic parameters was observed. After 3 months' treatment, blood pressure and forearm vascular resistance significantly decreased, but arterial diameter and forearm venous tone did not change. The study suggested that the antihypertensive effect of cicletanine involved a pharmacological action of the drug on the arterial smooth muscle of both small and large arteries, independently of the blood pressure reduction.