Effects of nadolol and propranolol on renal function in hypertensive patients with moderately impaired renal function

Effects of oral administration of equipotent antihypertensive doses of propranolol and nadolol on renal function were examined in 20 hypertensive patients with moderately impaired renal function. Creatinine clearance increased, and serum beta 2-microglobulin concentrations decreased, when patients were switched from propranolol to nadolol therapy (creatinine clearance = 46.7 +/- 4.9 ml min-1 on propranolol and 52.7 +/- 5.9 on nadolol; beta 2-microglobulin = 6.14 +/- 0.66 mg l-1 on propranolol and 5.62 +/- 0.62 on nadolol). When patients were put back on propranolol, their creatinine clearances (45.9 +/- 5.0 ml min-1) and serum beta 2-microglobulin concentrations (6.51 +/- 0.67 mg l-1) returned to values comparable to those obtained before the change to nadolol was made. Serum beta 2-microglobulin concentrations correlated significantly with creatinine clearance (r = -0.819, P less than 0.001).