Diazoxide in the management of severe hypertension

Fourteen patients with severe hypertension have been given i.v. diazoxide in a dosage of 5 mg/kg b.wt. The material comprised 2 patients with malignant nephrosclerosis, 4 with chronic nephropathy and severe reduction of renal function, 1 patient with chronic pyelonephritis, 1 with renovascular hypertension and 6 patients with essential hypertension and in malignant phase. All patients attained a controllable blood pressure. Eight patients remaining needed only one injection, while the remaining patients required 2-5 injections, and concomitant furosemide therapy. The retinopathy improved in most patients and renal function was unchanged in the azotemic patients. No serious adverse effects were seen, except one hypotensive episode. Diazoxide is easy to handle, dosage can be predetermined, monitoring is simple and we find diazoxide to be a valuable drug in severe hypertension.