New indices in the evaluation of clonidine transdermal therapy of hypertension.
Since high blood pressure might be more harmful the higher it is and the more it remains above a determined critical value (140/90 mm Hg - 18.7/12.0 k Pa - in the present study), the hyperbaric impact, a measure of the total load exerted on the arterial walls and the total time during the day when blood pressure is elevated above the critical value, have been evaluated. Ten patients with essential hypertension underwent non-invasive automatic 24-h blood pressure monitoring three times (baseline and after three and seven days from the application on the upper chest of a transdermal self-adhesive patch delivering clonidine). The recorder was programmed to measure blood pressure every 30 min during the day and every 60 min during the night. Significantly lower values of blood pressure, hyperbaric impact and duration of elevated blood pressure have been demonstrated from the third day after the beginning of transdermal therapy.
de Leonardis
V
V
Institute of Clinical Medicine IV, University of Florence, Italy.
de Scalzi
M
M
Becucci
A
A
Lusini
C
C
Cinelli
P
P
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013997:Time Factors
D003000:Clonidine