title: Differences in response of black hypertensives to alpha vs. beta adrenergic antagonists: preliminary findings.
abstract: We tested our clinical impression that black hypertensives in our clinic population responded better to alpha-adrenergic blocking agents (clonidine and prazosin) than to beta-adrenergic blockers (atenolol, nadolol and propranolol). Compared to no effect from eight weeks of therapy with beta-blockers, clonidine significantly decreased erect mean arterial pressure (MAP) when assessed weekly for four weeks (p = 0.027 to 0.046). However, the decrease in supine MAP was not significant. The effects of prazosin were more modest. Supine MAP was significantly less than with beta-blockade (p = 0.032) at two weeks but not at four weeks and decrements in erect MAP were not significant. In this preliminary study, black hypertensives appeared to be more responsive to alpha-adrenergic antagonists than to beta-blockers, with clonidine more effective than prazosin. Elucidation of possible mechanisms of the difference and of its clinical importance warrant further study.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Brater
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044383:Black People; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D011224:Prazosin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D003000:Clonidine; D011224:Prazosin