[Arterial hypertension: problems of maintenance therapy]

To study hypotensive reactions in patients taking hypotensive drugs and to specify peculiarities of blood pressure elevation in patients with a long history of taking hypotensive drugs, especially atenolol.

ECG, ultrasound investigation, chest x-ray, cholesterol, lipoprotein, urea, creatinine assays, tests for serum transaminase and transpeptidase activity were made in 200 patients with essential hypertension of the 1-3 degree (110 males, 90 females, age 30-80 years) to elucidate effects of 24-h and prolonged administration of peripheral vasodilators, diuretics, beta-adrenoblockers. The following drugs were given: nitroglycerin (sublingually, 0.0005 g--3 tablets or intraveous drops), lasix (40 mg), anaprilin (0.04-0.12 g per os), verapamil (0.04 g) or nifedipine (0.01 g 3 times a day), enap or diroton (per os, once a day). Blood pressure was measured each 3-4 hours in the first 24 hours.

Hypotensive drugs can normalize blood pressure and control it for a long time but their effect has some specific features. In hypertension of the 2-3 degree, beta-blockers are more effective than blockers of Ca channels, ACE, diuretics and nitroglycerin. Hypertensive patients on beta-adrenergic drugs maintenance have sometimes hypertensive crises which should be managed with nitroglycerin, ACE drugs (enap, as a rule) and diuretics (less frequently).