EFFECTS OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AGENTS ON CIRCADIAN BLOOD-PRESSURE IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS WITH PREVIOUS BRAIN INFARCTION

To evaluate the effects of antihypertensive agents on the circadian bl ood pressure (BP) of patients with previous brain infarction, the ambu latory BP was measured non-invasively for 24 h before and after admini stration of antihypertensive agents, One hundred milligrams of acebuto lol twice daily (n = 15) is effective in lowering the BP during the da ytime, but has little effect during the night and the morning, Twenty milligrams of slow-release nifedipine twice daily (n = 14) produced a consistent reduction in the BP over the entire 24-h period and effecti vely blunted the rise in BP in the morning. Captopril (12.5 mg) twice daily (n = 15) produced a mild reduction in BP with little change in t he circadian pattern. The slow-release nifedipine group had the greate st decrease in mean systolic and diastolic BP, The heart rate signific antly increased after administration of slow-release nifedipine and de creased after administration of acebutolol, To reduce stroke recurrenc e, we should consider the effects of antihypertensive agents on circad ian BP in hypertensive patients with previous brain infarction.