Serum trace-element levels in piretanide-treated hypertensives: a double-blind trial against hydrochlorothiazide plus...

A double-blind parallel group study was carried out in patients with mild to moderate hypertension to assess the effects of 6 mg piretanide once or twice daily, in comparison to 50 mg hydrochlorothiazide plus 5 mg amiloride once daily, on serum trace-element levels over a period of three months. The results showed that for most of the trace elements investigated (zinc, iron, copper, manganese and cobalt) no relevant changes were seen. Only serum iron values (medians) showed a slight drop (p less than 0.05) with 6 mg piretanide twice daily. The results indicate that a three-months' therapy with piretanide or with a thiazide-potassium sparer diuretic combination is safe without producing any disturbances in the serum levels of trace elements.