Renal haemodynamics during propranolol treatment in patients with arterial hypertension and chronic renal failure.

The effect of propranolol on renal haemodynamics was studied in nine patients with arterial hypertension and moderate to severe chronic renal failure. A reduction of the renal function in this type of patient might have clinical consequence. The patients, whose glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ranged between 17 ml/min/1.73 m2 and 71 ml/min/1.73 m2, were studied during three 4-week periods with alternately placebo, propranolol (40 mg b.i.d.) and placebo treatment. The GFR and the effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) were determined as the plasma clearance of 51Cr-EDTA and 125I-hippurane. The GFR fell on the average 7% (95% confidence limits: 1-12%) during propranolol treatment, and the fall was reversible. No changes were found in ERPF. In conclusion, propranolol treatment in this type of patient causes a modest and reversible fall of GFR.