[Hemodynamic long-term effects of a beta-receptor blockader (Pindolol) in primary essential hypertension]

1. Pindolol lowers blood pressure both, immediately after administration by a reduction of cardiac output and heart rate and after long-term administration by reducing peripheral resistance. Cardiac index, initially decreased, reached the control value after 8 weeks of treatment. 2. The persistent reduction in heart rate and increase of the cardiac index during exercise after prolonged treatment together with the increase of right and left heart filling pressures seems to be due to augmentation of the Starling mechanism. The increase of the stroke volume at rest and during exercise diminished the blood-pressure lowering effect of the drug. 4. The exercise-induced increase of noradrenalin was abolished by acute administration of pindolol. After long-term treatment, however, we found a consistent and significant elevation of the plasma-catecholamines. This may reflect the development of heart failure [1], a tyramin- or cocain-like action of pindolol [2] or an indirect sympathicomimetic effect of this drug at low doses (10--15 mg/day orally ) [3]. 5. The elevation of plasma-noradrenalin reflects increased sympathetic tone and may be responsible for the increase in stroke volume and plasma renin activity observed by several authors. 6. Since there was no evidence for a hemodynamic mode of action, the lowering of blood rpessure by pindolol may be a central effect.