Blood pressure elevations in riluzole-treated patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Objective: To determine whether riluzole is associated with blood pressure elevations in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Background : Though previously reported, hypertension is not considered a frequent adv erse effect of riluzole. Methods: We reviewed data from 35 consecutive ALS patients on riluzole, and 88 randomly selected controls without and 20 pati ents with ALS who were not on riluzole. Results: A significantly greater nu mber of ALS patients on riluzole had blood pressure elevations (28 of 35 pa tients) compared to controls (26 of 88, p < 0.001; 8 of 20, p = 0.007). Med ian systolic and diastolic blood pressures were both significantly higher i n riluzole-treated (140/86 mm Hg) than in control patients without ALS (120 /70 mm Hg, p < 0.001). Systolic, but not diastolic, blood pressures were si gnificantly higher in riluzole-treated patients than in controls with ALS ( 126 mm Hg, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Riluzole treatment may be associated wi th mild blood pressure elevations. Future prospective trials of riluzole sh ould closely assess hypertension. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.