[The relation between anti-hypertensive action and plasmatic concentration of pindolol. Preliminary study]

A correlation study between the antihypertensive effect and the plasma level of pindolol was performed in 10 patients with permanent essential hypertension. Pindolol was given orally (20 mg/day) during 9 days. The highly significant fall in blood pressure (delta SBP and delta DBP) is directly correlated negatively correlated, to the pretreatment pressure (p less than 0.02 for deltaSBP and p less than 0.05 deltaDBP) and negatively correlated to the pindolol plasma level (P less than 0.001 for delta SBP and p less than 0.05 for delta DBP). Multiple regression analysis shows, for delta SBP, a stronger influence of plasma level than of basal blood pressure. These results suggest that pindolol could have a specific effect in some hypertensive patients.