Treatment of hypertension in mild asthmatic patients with atenolol

Fourteen patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension and mild asthma were treated with Atenolol 50-125 mg/day for up to 8 months. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), rate pressure index (RPI), stress testing time (STT) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were measured before, during and after stress testing (ST) before and during treatment. Atenolol significantly lowered HR, SBP, DBP and RPI. It prolonged STT and had no effect on PEFR. Furthermore, Atenolol did not worsen the patient's asthma except for one patient. The drug did not interfere with the bronchodilatation effect of salbutamol. Atenolol can be used cautiously to treat hypertension in asthmatic patients under certain conditions.