Effects of pindolol and metoprolol on plasma lipids and lipoproteins

1 The effects of two beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs, pindolol and metoprolol, on plasma lipids and lipoproteins were studied in sixteen hypertensive patients (WHO I-I) by a cross-over design, with two active treatment periods of 12 weeks each. 2 Neither pindolol nor metoprolol had any effect on total plasma cholesterol (total-C), triglycerides (TG) or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). 3 Pindolol significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). After metoprolol, HDL-C levels remained similar to those in the placebo period. 4 The ratio of total-C to HDL-C was significantly reduced by pindolol only. 5 Compared with the placebo period, both pindolol and metoprolol significantly reduced heart rate (HR) and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure. The decreases in HR were significantly greater after metoprolol. No differences between the effects of the two drugs on SBP and/or DBP were observed.