SERUM-LIPOPROTEIN AND APOLIPOPROTEIN LEVELS DURING KETANSERIN OR METOPROLOL ADMINISTRATION IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Some antihypertensive drugs may deteriorate plasma lipids, thus reducing their efficacy in the prevention of atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients. The effects of ketanserin or metoprolol treatment on serum lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins were evaluated in patients with essential hypertension. Thirteen patients were treated with ketanserin (40 mg BID) and 13 with metroprolol (100 mg BID) for 12 weeks. Both ketanserin and metoprolol were effective in reducing blood pressure. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides, very-low-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apoproteins AI and B were measured before and after six and 12 weeks of therapy. No significant modifications of these parameters were observed in either group. Both metoprolol and ketanserin, a new selective antagonist of the S2 serotonin peripheral receptors, appear to be useful in treating hypertensive patients without producing any significant modification of the serum lipoprotein and apoprotein distribution.