Cardiovascular Effects of Ketanserin, A New Antiserotonergic Agent in the Treatment of Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Ketanserin, an investigational, antiserotonergic agent, at a dose of 40 mg bid was given to 18 patients with mild to moderate primary hypertension in a randomized, double‐blind, crossover study, with 100‐mg metoprolol bid for four weeks each. The following parameters were evaluated: blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac workload (product of systolic blood pressure and heart rate during bicycle exercise), systolic time intervals, and peripheral blood flow (by strain‐gauge plethysmography). Significant reductions in diastolic and concomitant slight decreases in systolic blood pressure without changes in heart rate were observed during ketanserin treatment; cardiac oxygen demands during exercise test did not change, however. Pre‐ejection period and left ventricular ejection time were unchanged, while significant increase in rest flow to the lower limbs and decrease in peripheral resistance were demonstrated by strain‐gauge plethysmography. The results indicate that ketanserin has vasodilating properties and hypotensive activity that may be useful in the management of patients with essential hypertension.