Pressor responses to antihypertensive drug types

Abstract

Background Pressor responses to antihypertensive drugs are not addressed in treatment guidelines although they have been described in various clinical situations. We now report the incidence of pressor responses to initiation of monotherapy using four antihypertensive drug types, and the influence of plasma renin activity (PRA) status, among participants in a worksite-based antihypertensive treatment program. Methods Systolic blood pressure (SBP) response was evaluated among 945 participants with no prior treatment who were given either a diuretic or calcium-channel blocker (natriuretic antivolume V drugs, n = 537) or a Β-blocker or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (antirenin R drugs n = 408). PRA was categorized by low, middle, and high tertiles (L, M, and H). SBP rise 10mmHg was considered pressor. Results More pressor responses occurred with R than V drugs (11% vs. 5%, P = 0.001). L, M, and H renin tertiles had similar frequencies with V drugs (6, 4, and 6%), but low and middle tertiles given R had greater pressor frequencies (17% P = 0.003 vs. V and 10% P = 0.02 vs. V). Treatment SBP ≥160mmHg occurred more frequently with R than V drugs (19% vs. 13%; P = 0.007); moreover, in the lowest renin tertile 35% R vs. 13% V (P = 0.001) had SBP ≥160mmHg. Treatment SBP <130mmHg was more frequent in V patients in the lowest tertile (18% vs. 5%; P = 0.003), and in R patients in the highest tertile (26% vs. 12%, P = 0.002). Conclusions Pressor responses to antihypertensive monotherapy occur sufficiently frequently to be of concern, especially in lower renin patients given a Β-blocker or ACE inhibitor (ACEI). © 2010 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.