Bronchoneutral effects in hypertensive asthmatics--celiprolol versus chlorthalidone

The actions of celiprolol and chlorthalidone on lung function were studied in a randomized double-blind study of 30 patients. At the end of a 4-week placebo run-in period each patient had a supine diastolic blood pressure between 90 and 115 mmHg, and a forced expiratory volume at the first second of expiration (FEV1) 50-80% of the predicted value in patients with bronchial asthma, and between 40% and 70% of the predicted value in patients with chronic airways obstruction. The active treatment period lasted 12 weeks during which patients received either celiprolol, 200-600 mg daily, or chlorthalidone 12.5-37.5 mg daily. Lung function, blood pressure and heart rate were measured and assessed every 2 weeks during active treatment. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were reduced during treatment with both drugs, but FEV1, forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume at 25-75% of vital capacity were not significantly altered. These results suggest that celiprolol does not adversely affect pulmonary function in hypertensive patients who also have chronic bronchial obstruction.