Effect of oxprenolol on blood pressure, pulmonary ventilatory function and myocardial contractility in hypertensive patients.

The effects of oxprenolol on blood pressure levels, pulmonary ventilatory function, myocardial contractility and myocardial oxygen consumption are described in 66 patients with essential hypertension and no clinical evidence of obstructive lung disease of heart failure. Two groups of patients were treated with medication for a total of 16 weeks. Group 1 received oxprenolol and diuretics for the first eight weeks and a placebo plus diuretics for the second eight weeks. Group 2 received the same drugs in reverse order. The results of the study indicate that oxprenolol is an effective antihypertensive drug that does not hamper lung volume capacity or myocardial contractility and markedly reduces myocardial oxygen consumption, although it may cause a mild increase in airway resistance.