Ketanserin in essential hypertension: effects during rest and exercise

Ketanserin is a new, specific serotonin receptor blocking agent, which causes vasodilatation, presumably by an action on the vascular wall. The antihypertensive response to ketanserin 40 mg twice daily as monotherapy was assessed in 8 patients with essential hypertension. The investigation was an 8 week, double-blind, cross over study, which also included measurements during isometric (handgrip) and dynamic exercise (bicycle ergometry), as well as determination of plasma catecholamines and ketanserin. Ketanserin caused a reduction of supine and standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) during rest and a slight bradycardia. Although there was attenuation of the pressor response to handgrip, treatment with ketanserin did not really affect the changes in BP or heart rate during exercise, i.e. the base-line differences remained the same. There was no significant correlation between the effect on BP and the plasma level of ketanserin. The changes in BP produced by ketanserin showed little correlation with the initial levels of plasma catecholamines or with alterations in those levels. Although the results did not indicate direct interference by ketanserin with sympathetic tone, the lack of reflexogenic tachycardia, as well as the lack of increase in plasma noradrenaline during hand grip, indicates at least some modulation of autonomic function. It is concluded that ketanserin lowers BP in essential hypertension without interference with cardiovascular reflexes during standing or exercise, and that the compound may offer an alternative approach in the treatment of hypertension.