Ketanserin in essential hypertension: use as monotherapy and in combination with a diuretic or beta-adrenoceptor antagonist.

1. The antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of twice-daily treatment with the 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonist ketanserin were examined in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 7 weeks duration in 56 hypertensive patients. Twenty were untreated, 20 were already taking bendrofluazide 5 mg daily, and 16 were already taking atenolol 100 mg daily. Randomisation was stratified to compare ketanserin with placebo as monotherapy (n = 20), when added to bendrofluazide (n = 20), and when added to atenolol (n = 16). 2. The antihypertensive effect of ketanserin in all patients completing the study (mean daily dose 71 mg) was 10/6 mm Hg supine (P less than 0.01/P less than 0.01) and 6/6 mm Hg standing (NS/P less than 0.01) when blood pressure was measured 2 h after the morning dose. Responses were similar in patients taking ketanserin as monotherapy, in addition to bendrofluazide, and in addition to atenolol, with reductions in mean arterial pressure of 4.6, 7.4 and 8.9 mm Hg respectively. 3. Ketanserin had no antihypertensive effect when measured 14 h after the last dose. The rise in blood pressure between 2 and 14 h after dosing was 11/4 mm Hg supine (P less than 0.01/NS) and 8/5 mm Hg standing (P less than 0.05/P less than 0.05). 4. The antihypertensive response to ketanserin was positively related to initial blood pressure and, independent of this, to age. It was not related to plasma concentrations of ketanserin or ketanserinol. 5. Five of 28 patients taking ketanserin discontinued treatment because of side-effects, compared with one of 28 patients taking placebo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes