[Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerance of three antihypertensive agents used as single-drug therapy, nifedipine, prazosin and acebutolol in severe, idiopathic hypertension in adolescents].

The antihypertensive efficacy of single-drug therapy with nifedipine (N), prazosin (P), or acebutolol (A) and the influence of these agents on coronary risk factors including hypoglycemia, hyperuricemia, and hyperlipidemia, were studied in adolescents with hypertension. Ninety patients (73 girls and 17 boys) aged 14 to 18 years with idiopathic hypertension (IH) were randomized into three groups. Each group received N, P, or A as single-drug therapy for six months. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures fell in all three groups, from 152/90 mmHg to 127/70 mmHg* with N, from 150/90 mmHg to 121/70 mmHg* with P, and from 148/92 mmHg to 122/74 mmHg* mmHg with A. In 17% of cases, N failed to reduce blood pressures below the 90th centiles. Heart rate was not influenced by N or P but decreased from 84 to 75 bpm with A. Although none of the drugs modified serum uric acid levels, fractional uric acid secretion rose with P and A (from 4.1% to 6% with P; and from 4.4% to 6% with A). The lipid profile remained unchanged under N and P, whereas a decrease in serum LDL-cholesterol from 99.6 to 88.8% mg* was seen with A. Fasting serum glucose levels increased from 86.4 to 92.7 mg %* in the group given A. N, P, and A are suitable for single-drug therapy of IH in adolescents; the most appropriate drug should be selected on the basis of medical history.