Peripheral Arterial Vaso-Occlusive Disease - No Absolute Contraindication To Beta-Receptor Blockers

An initial dosis of 40 mg followed by 40 mg propranolol (Dociton) t.i.d. for 4 weeks was administered to 16 hypertensive patients with manifest arterial vasoocclusive disease of the pelvic and thigh type (stage II according to Fontaine). Blood pressure decreased 90 minutes after the first oral administration from 174/106 to 155/93 mm Hg. Cardiac frequency was lowered significantly from 75 to 66/min. Occlusion plethysmography and Doppler pressure estimation were not changed significantly either in the acute nor in long-term assessment. The painfree walking distance remained constant 90 minutes after propranolol initially (baseline value 230 m, after 90 minutes 220 m). It rose to 330 m after two weeks and to 350 m after four weeks. Use of beta receptor blocker in arterial vasoocclusive disease is thus not contraindicated, at least as far as stage II is concerned.