title: Cardiovascular effects of ketanserin, a new antiserotonergic agent in the treatment of arterial hypertension.
abstract: Ketanserin, an investigational, antiserotonergic agent, at a dose of 40 mg bid was given to 18 patients with mild to moderate primary hypertension in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, with 100-mg metoprolol bid for four weeks each. The following parameters were evaluated: blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac workload (product of systolic blood pressure and heart rate during bicycle exercise), systolic time intervals, and peripheral blood flow (by strain-gauge plethysmography). Significant reductions in diastolic and concomitant slight decreases in systolic blood pressure without changes in heart rate were observed during ketanserin treatment; cardiac oxygen demands during exercise test did not change, however. Pre-ejection period and left ventricular ejection time were unchanged, while significant increase in rest flow to the lower limbs and decrease in peripheral resistance were demonstrated by strain-gauge plethysmography. The results indicate that ketanserin has vasodilating properties and hypotensive activity that may be useful in the management of patients with essential hypertension.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fasano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rubba
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iannuzzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007650:Ketanserin; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010880:Piperidines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D007650:Ketanserin; D008790:Metoprolol