Adrenoreceptors, endothelial function, and lipid profile: effects of atenolol, doxazosin, and carvedilol

I González Maqueda1

  • 1La Paz Hospital, Madrid, Spain.

Coronary Artery Disease
|November 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Alpha-1 blockers improve blood clotting and lipid profiles in hypertensive patients with ischemic heart disease. Beta-blockers reduce ischemia but do not improve fibrinolysis or lipid profiles.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Hypertension management often fails to adequately reduce ischemic heart disease incidence.
  • Adrenergic blockade's cardiovascular and endothelial effects require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the cardiovascular effects of alpha-blockade, beta-blockade, and dual-action adrenergic blockade.
  • To assess the impact of these treatments on endothelial fibrinolytic response and lipoprotein metabolism in hypertensive patients with ischemic heart disease.

Main Methods:

  • 78 hypertensive patients with stable angina and silent ischemia were treated with atenolol (beta-blocker), doxazosin (alpha-1 inhibitor), or carvedilol (dual-action).
  • Cardiovascular parameters, endothelial fibrinolytic activity, and lipoprotein metabolism were assessed at baseline and 6 months.

Main Results:

  • Atenolol improved exercise tolerance but did not affect fibrinolysis.
  • Doxazosin enhanced endothelial fibrinolytic activity and improved the lipoprotein ratio without anti-ischemic effects.
  • Carvedilol reduced ischemia and improved fibrinolytic activity post-anoxia, without altering the lipid profile.

Conclusions:

  • Alpha-1 receptor inhibition improves endothelial fibrinolytic activity and lipid profiles in hypertensive patients.
  • Beta-blockade demonstrates anti-ischemic effects but does not enhance fibrinolysis or improve the lipoprotein ratio.
Abstract

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