Renal plasma flow and cardiac output during hydralazine and propranolol treatment in essential hypertension

11 patients with essential hypertension

Sequential treatment: hydralazine (25 mg b.i.d.) for 2 weeks, followed by hydralazine and propranolol (80 mg b.i.d.) for 2 weeks, followed by propranolol alone for 2 weeks

Baseline measurements before medication and intra-individual comparison across the three treatment phases

Changes in renal and systemic circulation (mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac index, effective renal plasma flow, peripheral renin activity, and plasma aldosterone) measured using non-invasive radioisotope techniquessurrogate