Evaluation of the Antihypertensive Effect of a β-Blocker with the Aid of Daily Blood Pressure Profiles

The clinical efficacy of bopindolol, a new, long-acting beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug, in a dosage of 1-2 mg daily was compared with that of atenolol (50-100 mg daily) in 33 patients with mild or moderate arterial hypertension who were treated for a total period of 12 months. Both drugs lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure to about the same extent, but atenolol caused a somewhat greater lowering of heart rate. Over 70% of patients receiving atenolol required a diuretic in addition, whereas only 55% of the bopindolol patients required a diuretic. Both drugs maintained 24-h blood pressure reduction with once-daily therapy, although circadian rhythm (recorded using a Remler device) tended to be lost during treatment with atenolol but not with bopindolol.