[Hemorheologic changes in patients with essential hypertension treated with prazosin]

Prazosin which is a selective alfa-1 blocking drug has a very good antihypertensive effect. Its hemorheological effects were studied in 20 patients with essential hypertension (I and II degree according to WHO classification). After 6 weeks of the therapy with prazosin, hematocrit and viscosity of the whole blood and plasma were significantly reduced, because of hemodilution, while aggregability of erythrocyte and "Tk" values were not significantly reduced. Platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP and adrenaline, showed a decrease after the treatment. Assuming the hemorheological effects not to be crucial in choosing an antihypertensive agent, we must not, however, neglect them, especially in patients with compromised hemorheological profile, and we should take advantage of the positive hemorheological effect of prazosin, particularly in a long antihypertensive treatment.