[Clonazepam in the treatment of labile arterial hypertension in the elderly].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate effectiveness of clonazepam and its influence on autonomic function.


METHODS
56 patients with LHE aged 67.0 + 6.3 years were examined. 50 of them were treated with clonazepam in daily dose 1-2 mg. Their results were compared with age and sex matched normotensive persons. The routine clinical examination, regular measurement of blood pressure (BP), psychological tests, investigation of heart rate variability and evoked cutaneous sympathetic potentials (ECSP) were made. These tests were performed before and after treatment with clonazepam.


RESULTS
Clonazepam significantly reduced fluctuations of BP in 82.0% of patients with LHE: the fluctuation range of systolic BP was reduced 2 times, diastolic BP--1.6. At the same time clonazepam diminished the level of anxiety, heart rate variability with increasing normalized VLF (central influence) and lowering LF and HF (segmental sympathetic and parasympathetic influences). ECSP were characterized by slowing sympathetic conduction and reduction of ECSP amplitude.


CONCLUSIONS
Clonazepam, by changing autonomic properties, leads to stabilization of blood pressure in most patients with LHE. It is recommended to use clonazepam in daily dose 1-2 mg in combination with conventional antihypertensive medications for prevention of excessive fluctuation of BP in patients with LHE.
Dmitriev
K V
KV
Fedorova
V I
VI
Nedostup
A V
AV
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D001775:Blood Circulation; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013997:Time Factors
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D018757:GABA Modulators; D002998:Clonazepam