Control of blood pressure and reduction of echocardiographically assessed left ventricular mass with one-daily timolol.

Abstract

1 Ten untreated hypertensive patients underwent 24 h continuous intra- arterial ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure (BP) and M-mode echocardiography. 2 They were treated with once-daily timolol and followed up at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks when dosage was titrated against BP control (indirect measurement) and degree of beta-adrenoceptor antagonism (submaximal bicycle ergometry and sub-lingual GTN). 3 Sixteen weeks after commencing therapy, nine patients underwent repeat continuous ambulatory monitoring of BP and M-mode echocardiography. 4 Casual BP was significantly reduced during the follow-up period at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. 5 A reduction of BP was seen throughout the 24 h although this did not achieve statistical significance when sympathetic activity was low. 6 Echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular mass was significantly reduced after 16 weeks treatment.