title: Relative potency of a beta-blocking and a calcium entry blocking agent as antihypertensive drugs in black patients.
abstract: The short-term efficacy of nitrendipine (N) as a first stage antihypertensive drug in black patients has been assessed and compared with acebutolol (A) in a double-blind study. Forty patients were randomized and after a 4 week run-in period on placebo, the active treatment was administered for 6 weeks starting with 20 mg N or 200 mg A once daily. The dose was increased up to 60 mg N or 600 mg A as needed. Nitrendipine appeared to be more efficient than acebutolol in reducing blood pressure and the N-induced fall in blood pressure was achieved after 2 weeks. After 2 and 6 weeks on N, the recumbent blood pressure was decreased by 13% and 12% for the systolic and by 14% and 11% for the diastolic pressure. The concurrent decreases in the A group averaged 4% and 5% for the systolic and 5% and 10% for the diastolic pressure after 2 and 6 weeks. Pulse rate and plasma renin activity in the N group were slightly increased and body weight was decreased at the end of the active treatment period.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: M'Buyamba-Kabangu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lepira
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fagard
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lijnen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ditu
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Tshiani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amery
mesh_terms: D000070:Acebutolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009568:Nitrendipine; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D000070:Acebutolol; D009568:Nitrendipine; D012083:Renin; D009543:Nifedipine