Use of diazoxide in hypertension with renal failure

Treatment with intravenous and oral diazoxide was given to a group of 39 patients suffering from severe drug-resistant hypertension associated with renal impairment. Rapid initial and good long-term control of hypertension was achieved in all cases without the production of clinically significant postural hypotension. The side effects of diazoxide, including its diabetogenic effect, were easily controlled. There was a highly significant improvement in renal function in most patients on long-term oral diazoxide therapy.Diazoxide may have an important place in both the short- and long-term therapy of resistant hypertension, particularly in association with renal damage.