Double-blind comparison of ketanserin with propranolol in hypertensive patients: interim report

This double-blind study, which is still in progress, aims to compare ketanserin (K) and propranolol (P) during long-term treatment of hypertensive patients in general practice. After a run-in period on placebo, active treatment was initiated with 20 mg K or 40 mg P, b.i.d., during a 2-week period, whereafter the daily dose of either drug was doubled. Presently, 331 patients have been randomized, two-thirds to the K group (n = 221) and one-third to the P group (n = 110). Both groups were similar at randomization, with blood pressure (BP) averaging 171/105 mm Hg. The presently available data concerning the initial 3 months of the trial show that up to the 2nd month after randomization, systolic BP was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in the K than in the P group, whereas the differences in diastolic BP were mostly not significant. The change in BP after 3 months on K treatment was positively and independently related to both the initial BP and the concurrent changes in body weight. Heart rate was lower (p less than 0.001) during P, whereas body weight was not statistically different between both groups. Differences in complaints between the K and P group were small. However, in the K group dry mouth was transiently more frequently reported at 1 month (p = 0.02) and multiple complaints at 3 months (p = 0.03).