DOUBLE-BLIND CONTROLLED-STUDY OF RILMENIDINE VERSUS HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE IN MILD HYPERTENSION - CLINICAL AND RENAL HEMODYNAMIC EVALUATION

Clinical and renal haemodynamic parameters were evaluated in 20 mild h ypertensive patients after rilmenidine (RIL) administration during a o ne month double-blind randomised study compared with hydrochlorothiazi de (HCT). At the beginning and at the end of the study, BP, heart rate and renal haemodynamic parameters were evaluated. Renal haemodynamic parameters included effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) evaluated by ra dionuclide study utilising I-131-Hippuran according to Schlegel's meth od, effective renal blood flow (ERBF = ERPF/(1 - Ht)), glomerular filt ration rate (GFR) by creatinine clearance, filtration fraction (FF = G FR/ERPF) and renal vascular resistances (RVR = DBP x 80/ERBF). RIL and HCT significantly (P < 0.01) reduced systolic, diastolic and mean blo od pressure without relevant change in ERPF, ERBF, GFR and FF. RVR was significantly reduced both in the RIL group (P < 0.002 vs. baseline) and in the HCT group (P < 0.001 vs. baseline). No relevant side-effect s were observed in either group. In conclusion, rilmenidine was effect ive in reducing BP in mild hypertensive patients and produced favourab le effects on renal function.