Long-term effect of pindolol on lipids and lipoproteins in men with newly diagnosed hypertension.

This is the first long-term study of pindolol in a population-based sample of men with newly diagnosed hypertension. Eighty-two patients, with a diastolic pressure of 100 mm Hg or more, were identified after screening 6000 men. Many patients were overweight. 82 population controls, matched by sex, age and body mass index, were also recruited. Fourty-eight per cent of the patients and 25% of the controls had a family history of hypertension. Serum triglyceride and urate values were higher in patients than controls at the baseline investigation. Seventy-four patients were followed for 1 year. The dose of pindolol averaged 7.7 mg once daily after 1 year. The diastolic blood pressure was reduced by 13.4 mm Hg. The target pressure of 95 mm Hg or less was achieved in 89% of the patients. The HDL-cholesterol concentration was normal and did not change, whereas the LDL-cholesterol concentration decreased by 0.15 mmol.l-1 during treatment. The total triglyceride values increased transiently up to 6 months, but no significant increase was seen after one year. It is concluded that pindolol had no adverse effect on serum cholesterol and its HDL- and LDL-fractions during 1 year of treatment.