Clinical-Evaluation Of Bevantolol Hydrochloride In Patients With Severe Hypertension

The clinical efficacy and safety of bevantolol hydrochloride, a newly developed beta-blocker, used in combination with other types of antihypertensive agents, were evaluated in patients with severe hypertension by multicenter open-label trials. A total of 28 patients were studied at 20 medical centers. Four patients (14.3%) were excluded for some reasons, and the remaining 24 patients (22 outpatients and 2 inpatients) were analyzed. Following the initiation of therapy, blood pressure decreased from 181 +/- 15 (SD)/114 +/- 3 mmHg to 170 +/- 17/102 +/- 8 mmHg (p < 0.01) on the 14th day of the therapy and gradually lowered further thereafter. At the end of the trial (8th week), blood pressure was stabilized at the level of 160 +/- 14/96 +/- 10 mmHg. The antihypertensive efficacy rated by the changes in mean blood pressure was 79.2% (19/24). Pulse rate decreased slightly but significantly from 75 +/- 10 beats/min to 70 +/- 7 (p < 0.05) on the 14th day of the therapy and stabilized at the similar level thereafter. As abnormal laboratory data were detected in 3 patients and 1 patient complained of a mild headache, the safety ratio was 83.3% (20/24 patients). When the usefulness was assessed in terms of antihypertensive efficacy and safety profiles, bevantolol hydrochloride was considered useful in 75.0% of the patients studied. In conclusion, bevantolol hydrochloride, used in combination with other classes of antihypertensive agents, appears to be an excellent drug for the management of patients with severe hypertension.