title: Effects of doxazosin and atenolol on the fibrinolytic system in patients with hypertension and elevated serum cholesterol.
abstract: Disturbances in the fibrinolytic system have been associated with cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. In the present study the effects of an alpha 1-adrenoceptor inhibitor (doxazosin) and a selective beta-adrenoceptor blocker (atenolol) on the fibrinolytic system have been evaluated. Eighty four subjects with previously untreated mild to moderate hypertension and elevated serum cholesterol were randomized to receive atenolol or doxazosin in a double-blind study over 6 months. Tissue plasminogen activator(tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) were measured in citrated plasma samples before and after venous occlusion before and at the end of the study period. tPA activity after venous occlusion and tPA capacity were significantly increased after doxazosin as compared to pretreatment values. The fibrinolytic variables did not change in the atenolol group. Thus, doxazosin but not atenolol, improved the activity of the fibrinolytic system in patients with hypertension and an elevated serum cholesterol level. This effect of doxazosin warrants consideration when selecting a first-line antihypertensive drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Skellefteå Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jansson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boman
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D017292:Doxazosin; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators / Q000097:blood; D011224:Prazosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D001262:Atenolol; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D017292:Doxazosin; D011224:Prazosin