title: Long-term control of hypertension in dialysis patients by low dose atenolol.
abstract: Hypertension in dialysis patients is considered a major factor in cardiovascular mortality. We investigated long-term efficacy of intermittent atenolol (AT) administration in 10 (7M/3F) hypertensive dialysis patients, age 60.5 (38-72), on dialysis for 56.5 months (8-156) thrice per week (10.5-13.5 h/w) (A). A similar group of 11 normotensive patients served as controls (B). Hypertension was defined as BP> 140/90 (day) and >120/80 mmHg (night) by a 44-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) after the mid-week session. Dialysis ultrafiltration, hematology, biochemistry were similar in A and B. Atenolol was started on an alternate day, 37.5 mg/w and increased as needed. After 34 days (6-80) and a dose of 68.75 (37.5-450) mg/w, BP dropped (ABPM: MAP 104+/-11.5 to 95.6+/-10.4 mmHg, P=0.0025) similar to controls and daytime HR dropped: 84.6+/-9.2 to 69.3+/-8.2, P=0.0008 and at night: 79.5+/-7.6 to 68.6+/-8.6 b/1' becoming lower than in B: 83+/-10.8/69.3+/-8.2, P=0.009 and 80.5+/-11.7/68.6+/-8.6 b/1' (P=0. 02). Six months later ABPM in A as well as echocardiography in A and B remained unchanged. Moderate, volume independent hypertension in stable dialysis patients is easily controlled during the interdialytic period by small intermittent atenolol doses.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Department, A. Fleming Hospital, Athens, Greece. renquest@internet.gr
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Vlassopoulos
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Mentzikof
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hadjiyannakos
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Noussias
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Karras
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Hadjiconstantinou
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001262:Atenolol