Haemodynamic effects of four months' mefruside therapy in hypertensive patients

The haemodynamic changes after 4 months' mefruside therapy in 13 patients with essential hypertension have been studied. Intraarterial BP was significantly reduced both at rest supine and during standardized leg exercise in sitting position. The reduction was caused mainly by a decrease in cardiac output in about half of the patients and mainly by a decrease in total peripheral vascular resistance in the remainder. Thus, for the total material there was no significant change in either cardiac output or total peripheral vascular resistance. At rest, however, there was a significant decrease in storke volume (p less than 0.05) and an increase in heart rate (p less than 0.05). On changing from supine to sitting position, the average systolic and diastolic pressures increased before and decreased after therapy, the differences being significant. The results indicate that the hypotensive effect of long-term saluretic therapy is accomplished by a decrease in cardiac output and/or peripheral vascular resistance, with large interindividual variations.