THE EFFECT ON HDL CHOLESTEROL OF OXPRENOLOL AND ATENOLOL

Abstract

In 19 healthy 50-yr-old men with untreated mild essential hypertension (WHO group 1 classification), randomized into 2 groups, treatment (18 wk) with oxprenolol (n = 10) lowered HDL [high density lipoprotein] cholesterol by 11.4% (P < 0.02) and cholesterol ratio (HDL cholesterol .times. 100/LDL [low density lipoprotein] + VLDL [very low density lipoprotein] cholesterol) by 13.7% (P < 0.05), whereas atenolol (n = 9) lowered HDL cholesterol by 16.5% (P < 0.02) and cholesterol ratio by 19.2% (P < 0.01). In the total material (n = 19) the reduction in HDL cholesterol correlated positively with initial concentration of HDL (r = 0.48, P < 0.05). Increments of total triglycerides by 20.0 and 17.9%, respectively, for the 2 drugs and small changes in total cholesterol, LDL + VLDL cholesterol and uric acid were not significant. The HDL cholesterol-lowering effect of oxprenolol and atenolol may have clinical importance, since such metabolic side effects were postulated to counteract the beneficial effect of blood pressure reduction on development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease in mild essential hypertension.