Antihypertensive efficacy of ketanserin alone or in combination with a beta-blocker or a diuretic: the Swiss Ketanserin Study.
In the Swiss Ketanserin Study the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of ketanserin (given in 20 or 40 mg doses twice daily) was investigated, after a placebo run-in phase, as monotherapy (n = 68) as well as in combination with either atenolol (100 mg/day) (n = 30) or the potassium-sparing diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (50 mg/day) and amiloride (5 mg/day) (n = 26) in 124 patients with essential hypertension, aged 41 to 82 years. With the addition of ketanserin, diastolic blood pressure fell by 8 +/- 8, 8 +/- 8, and 7 +/- 9 (+/- SD) mm Hg, respectively (p less than 0.05 for all) in the three treatment groups; heart rate remained unchanged or fell slightly. Ketanserin had no effect on body weight, or biochemical variables, including total serum cholesterol and triglycerides, with the exception of a minor increase in apolipoprotein B. Using a patient self-assessment questionnaire (30 items), the addition of ketanserin was associated with a reduction of most of the symptoms encountered in the placebo phase, including sleep disturbances, general feeling of weakness, headaches, nervousness, and fatigue, but there was a tendency toward increases in stuffy nose and dry mouth. In patients older than 60 years, the antihypertensive efficacy of ketanserin was greater, with 59% achieving a diastolic pressure less than or equal to 95 mm Hg versus 45% in the younger patients. This age trend also emerged when ketanserin was combined with either atenolol or the diuretic.
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D007650:Ketanserin