Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of transdermal beta-blocker therapy in patients with essential hypertension.

Transdermal drug delivery has been applied to various agents in an effort to decrease the frequency of drug administration and improvement of the patients compliance. In the present study, it could be demonstrated that transdermal monotherapy (BIO TSD) with a beta-blocker (20 mg mepindolol) in patients with essential hypertension led to an effective 24 h blood pressure lowering effect within 1 week (160.1 +/- 6.1 mmHg/95.8 +/- 8.3 mmHg vs. 136.8 +/- 7.2 mmHg/84.3 +/- 5.0 mmHg; p less than 0.05). Also a reduction of excessive blood pressure peaks in the circadian blood pressure profiles was observed. Studies comparing transdermal with oral beta-blocker administration in hypertensive patients would further substantiate the value of this new therapeutic system as an antihypertensive treatment.