Different hemodynamic effects of celipropol and atenolol in patients with mild to moderate hypertension

The hemodynamic effects of celiprolol (CAS 56980-93-9), a betablocker with beta 1 antagonist and beta 2 agonist properties, were compared with those of atenolol (CAS 29122-68-7) in 12 patients with mild to moderately severe hypertension (diastolic BP 95-110 mmHg). Celiprolol and atenolol lead to a similar and significant reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.005). However, with celiprolol heart rate at rest was significantly less depressed then with atenolol (p = 0.004) and showed a distinctly less pronounced depression of heart rate with exercise (p = 0.004). Cardiac output at rest was reduced by 19% under atenolol, but was increased by 9% under celiprolol treatment; in this respect, the two medications differed significantly (p = 0.03). The adaptation of heart rate and cardiac output to exercise was better with celipropol as compared to atenolol treatment. The difference between arm arterial pressure and ankle occlusion pressure at rest was not significantly influenced by atenolol, whereas celiprolol treatment increased this difference by a mean of up to 16 mmHg (p = 0.009). This different effect on peripheral arterial circulation was even more pronounced after exercise. Both celiprolol and atenolol increased blood cell flow velocity in the nailfold capillaries, but this increases was statistically only significant with celiprolol (p = 0.047). These results demonstrate that the hemodynamic effects of celiprolol were significantly different from those of atenolol; celiprolol produces less bradycardia, increases cardiac output at rest and decreases peripheral arterial resistance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)