A comparison of the effects of the selective peripheral α1-blocker terazosin with the selective β1-blocker atenolol on blood pressure, exercise performance and the lipid profile in mild-to-moderate essential hypertension

Abstract

The effects of six weeks of treatment with the selective peripheral α1-adrenoceptor blocker terazosin, or the selective β1-adrenoceptor blocker atenolol on blood pressure, exercise performance and blood lipid profile were compared in a single-blind, randomized, crossover study of 17 patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. Although both drugs significantly reduced blood pressure at rest, atenolol caused a larger fall in supine blood pressure (11/11 and 7.5/7.0 mmHg, atenolol and terazosin, respectively;p < 0.001). Both treatments controlled the pressor response to exercise, although a greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure was observed at the end of exercise on terazosin (74.0 ± 5.7 and 91.6 ± 4.0 mmHg, terazosin and atenolol, respectively;p < 0.01). Alpha1-blocker therapy was not associated with any measurable improvement or deterioration in cardiopulmonary performance and exercise duration. Unlike atenolol, terazosin therapy had the potentially beneficial effect