[Therapeutic aspects of orthostatic dysfunction]

In two open intraindividual controlled clinical trials efficacy of placebo, Dihydergot and etilefrine as well as a combination of Dihydergot and etilefrine on the parameters "venous capacity", "circulatory response to orthostatic stress" and "blood pressure" was compared under acute and chronic therapy. Under acute conditions (15 healthy individuals; medication: placebo 0.25 Dihydergot i.v., 15 mg etilefrine p.o., 0.25 mg Dihydergot plus 15 mg etilefrine p.o.) superiority of the combination could be demonstrated concerning tonisation of the capacitance vessels and improvement of circulatory regulation during orthostasis, as indicated by less pronounced increase in heart rate. In a further study, in which 14 healthy individuals with relatively low blood pressure (RR syst./RR diast. 114/78 mm Hg) received each for one week 20 mg etilefrine, 2 mg Dihydergot or the combination (Dihydergot plus), blood pressure increased significantly (p less than or equal to 0.05) under the combination. The effect was due to the etilefrine component of the combination as could be inferred from the assessment of efficacy.