[Evaluation of rhythm tolerance of cicletanine using continuous electrocardiographic recording]

The effectiveness of cicletanine against hypertension, as well as its clinical, biochemical and electrocardiographic safety, were studied in 52 patients (24 women, 28 men, mean age 60.3 +/- 8.6 years) presenting with permanent, moderate to severe arterial hypertension without severe cardiovascular complications. After three months of treatment, blood pressure had fallen from 182.2/116.8 mmHg, with a mean daily dose of 181 mg of cicletanine at the end of the study. Mean falls of 34 mmHg for the systolic arterial pressure and 25 mmHg for the diastolic arterial pressure normalized BP in 55.8% of the patients treated and significantly reduced the functional symptoms of hypertension. Continuous 24-hour ECG recording (Holter system), performed on days 0, 30 and 90, demonstrated a considerable reduction (about 70%) of ventricular and supraventricular extrasystoles during treatment. No undesirable side-effect, even minor, was reported. There was little change in biochemical parameters: the moderate decrease of natraemia and kalaemia observed was due to the natriuretic effect of cicletanine in doses of 200 mg/day. Plasma creatinine and uric levels remained stable, and an improvement in glucose and lipid metabolism was noted.