Budralazine is a Useful Antihypertensive Alone and in Combination Patients responding include the elderly and those with complications

An open multicentre study was conducted to assess the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of budralazine in patients with essential hypertension. 281 patients with WHO state I-III essential hypertension (BP ~ 160/90mm Hg) received budralazine 90-180mg daily for 8 weeks after a 2-week run­in.

Sitting BP was significantly reduced after 2 weeks, and after 8 weeks was reduced from 176/98 to 152/85mm Hg (p < 0.001). HR was not significantly altered. BP was reduced by 18/12 and 25/13mm Hg in patients on monotherapy (n = 94) and combination therapy (187), respectively, and by 24/12mm Hg in patients < 60 years (n = 112) and 25/14mm Hg in patients ~ 60 years (169). Comparable and significant (p < 0.001) reductions in BP occurred in subgroups of patients with cerebrovascular disease (n = 43), diabetes mellitus (60), renal disease (36) and heart disease (50). BP was reduced by ~ 20/ 10mm Hg in 168 patients. There was no difference in antihypertensive efficacy between younger and elderly patients or between patients with WHO stage I, II and III essential hypertension, but efficacy was higher in patients with heart disease (76%) vs diabetes mellitus (53.9%), those on combination therapy (63%) vs monotherapy (53%), patients on diuretics (72.4%) and calcium antagonists (774%) vs ACE inhibitors (57.1 %) and sympatholytics (55.5%). Four patients experienced 8 mild adverse effects

Thus, budralazine appears to be an effective antihypertensive agent In patients with essenlial hypertension including the elderly and those with complications. Ogihara T, Kumahara Y. Current Therapeutic Research 43: 181·192, Feb 1988

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