title: Treatment of postmenopausal hypertension with moxonidine, a selective imidazoline receptor agonist.
abstract: This study compared the effects of two sympatholytic agents--one central (moxonidine) and one peripheral (atenolol)--on blood pressure and other metabolic syndrome factors in postmenopausal hypertensive women who were not taking hormone replacement therapy. Atenolol and moxonidine led to a statistically significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure of 9.5 mmHg and 5.5 mmHg, respectively. A clear rebound effect was observed in the atenolol patients whereas the moxonidine group exhibited a slightly further decrease in blood pressure. Moxonidine also caused a profound decrease in both mean plasma-glucose area under the curve (AUC) during oral glucose tolerance test (-0.96 mmol/L x H, NS) and mean plasma-insulin AUC (-6.15 mU/L x H). Therefore, moxonidine displayed a slightly less potent antihypertensive effect than atenolol in hypertensive postmenopausal women, but it demonstrated a better metabolic effect. To conclude, moxonidine could benefit hypertensive postmenopausal women who display other signs of metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaaja
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manhem
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuomilehto
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054755:Imidazoline Receptors; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000378:metabolism; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007093:Imidazoles; D054755:Imidazoline Receptors; D007328:Insulin; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D013565:Sympatholytics; D001262:Atenolol; C043482:moxonidine