[Chronic effects of low-dose hydrochlorothiazide in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the chronic efficacy of low-dose hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.


METHODS
After a 2-weeks placebo run-in period, 232 patients with mild or moderate hypertension were recruited and received HCTZ (12.5 mg once daily) therapy for one year. Patient compliance and blood pressure were monitored and serum BUN, Cr, glucose, electrolytes, and lipids were measured before, 6 weeks and 1 year after treatment.


RESULTS
(1) Reduction of SBP, DBP and MAP were more significantly at 1 year [(10.45 +/- 17.28) mm Hg, (8.45 +/- 11.06) mm Hg, (9.12 +/- 10.88) mm Hg] than that at 6 weeks post therapy [(6.01 +/- 16.05) mm Hg, (2.90 +/- 10.33) mm Hg, (3.94 +/- 10.68) mm Hg, all P < 0.05]. Blood pressure were reduced to normal in 35.1% patients at 1 year and in 20.3% patients at 6 weeks (P < 0.05). (2) No patient developed diabetes mellitus or hypokalemia during therapy while the serum uric acid at 1 year post therapy was significantly higher than that at before therapy (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The study indicates that low dose HCTZ is an effective and safe antihypertensive agent for patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension and uric acid changes during therapy need to be monitored.
Wu
Shou-ling
SL
Department of Cardiology, Kai Luan Hospital, North China Coal Medical College, Tangshan 063000, China.
Sun
Li-xia
LX
Zhao
Hai-yan
HY
Wang
Gui-ling
GL
Li
Yun
Y
Wang
Li-guang
LG
He
Wen-chang
WC
Liu
Fu-shan
FS
Liu
Ke-jian
KJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide