Comparative effects of prazosin and atenolol on plasma lipids in hypertensive patients.

Adverse modifications of blood lipid fractions are thought to be an additional risk factor in hypertensive patients treated with some antihypertensive drugs. The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in concentrations of lipid fractions in patients treated with either the cardioselective beta blocker atenolol or the selective alpha 1 blocker prazosin. When used in approximately equipotent doses for antihypertensive effect, prazosin and atenolol demonstrated different effects on lipid metabolism. Prazosin lowered total levels of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and B-apolipoproteins, but increased the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein2 cholesterol and A1-apolipoproteins. Changes opposite to those induced by prazosin were observed during atenolol therapy.