and ..Pinacidil: appears to be an effective well­tolerated antihypertensive agent

An open study was conducted to assess theefficacy and tolerability of the vasodilator pinacid il[P-1134; Leo Denmark] in the treatment of 10patients with essential hypertension and 10 withhypertension associated with renal impairment. Allpatients had received previous unsuccessfulantihypertensive treatment. After a 1-week placeboperiod, patients received pinacid il for 10-63 (mean 43)weeks. The dosages were 20-100 (mean 32) mgjdayfor patients with essential hypertension and 20-60(mean 33) mgjday for those with renal impairment.Concomitant therapy included a diuretic + ~-blocker

(9 patients). a ~-blocker only (6) and diuretics only(5).

There was a statistically significant reduct ion inBPs over baseline values in all the patients. but thedifference between the 2 groups was not significant.The overall changes in heart rate were notstatistically significant.

Reported side effects included dizziness (3patients), tiredness (1), postural hypotension (1),palpitations (1) and positive antinuclear factorantibodies (2). It was concluded that pinacidil was aneffective antihypertensive drug in the treatment ofhypertension refractory to other treatments. It waswell tolerated, but the presence of antinuclearantibodies in 2 patients suggests further study isrequired.Breen, E.G.; Mulhall, D. and Keogh , JAB.: European Journal of ClinicalPharmacology 28. 381-386(No 4, 1985)

6 INPHARMA@13 Jul 1985 0156-2703 /85/0713-0006/0$01 ,00/0 © ADIS Press