title: Ketanserin, hypertension, and chronic alcoholism: double-blind study in forty patients.
abstract: In a randomized double-blind trial involving 40 alcoholic hypertensive patients, the antihypertensive activity of ketanserin, a serotonin antagonist with high affinity for S2 serotonergic receptors, was compared with a placebo. Patients in both groups were matched for age, body weight, blood pressure, alcoholic consumption, and length of alcoholism. The administration of ketanserin significantly reduced (p less than 0.001) mean supine blood pressure from 167/106 mmHg (22.3/14.1 kPa) at baseline to 145/87 mmHg (19.3/11.6 kPa) after 90 days of treatment versus a slight non-significant reduction with the placebo. No significant changes in heart rate, body weight, or laboratory parameters occurred. The incidence of side-effects was low in both groups. The results of this study suggest the possible role of serotonin in the pathogenesis of alcohol-related hypertension and the potential treatment of the disease using S2-receptor antagonists such as ketanserin.
authors.affiliation: National Council of Research, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Lorenzo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceccanti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Assogna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavaleri
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Attilia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; 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; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D007650:Ketanserin