Effect of celiprolol treatment in hypertensive patients with sleep apnea

The effects of a P-blocker, celiprolol, on sleep and arterial blood pressur e (BP) were evaluated during a single-blind study in seven hypertensive pat ients with sleep apnea. Diurnal ambulatory BP measurements with an automati c cuff-inflation device and polysomnography with simultaneous Finapres BP r ecording were performed separately on consecutive days at the end of two 21 -day treatment periods involving placebo followed by celiprolol (200mg/day) . Age was 59 +/- 2.5 yr (m +/- sem) and body mass index 33.2 +/- 2.3 kg. m( -2). Diurnal ambulatory BP was significantly lower with celiprolol than wit h placebo (systolic 139 +/- 4 vs 152 +/- 5 mmHg, diastolic 86 +/- vs 96 +/- 2 mmHg). The apnea-hypopnea index was similar under celiprolol and placebo (48 +/- 7.4 vs 53 +/- 7.8, respectively), as were the total sleep time and percent of duration of the different sleep stages. Individual average BP v alues were significantly lower during REM sleep under celiprolol but remain ed similar under celiprolol and placebo in the other sleep stages. Variabil ity of nocturnal BP (assessed by the SD of distribution of BP variations) w as not affected by celiprolol. In conclusion, celiprolol which decreased da ytime BP, did not affect sleep pattern or respiratory disturbances, or noct urnal BP variability related to apnea.