Duration of action of bisoprolol after cessation of a 4 week treatment and its influence on pulse wave velocity and aortic diameter: a pilot study in hypertensive patients

A pilot study was performed in hypertensive patients (a) to investigate the duration of blood pressure reduction produced by the new beta blocker bisoprolol (10 mg o.d.) after cessation of a 4 week treatment using non-invasive 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements, (b) to study the effects of the drug on large arteries using non-invasive brachio-radial pulse wave velocity and aortic abdominal diameter measurements 3 hours after the last dose of a 4 week treatment. In comparison with the results obtained before treatment a significant reduction of blood pressure and heart rate was observed up to the 40th hour after treatment was terminated. The finding may be relevant for further evaluation of withdrawal phenomena produced by beta-blocking agents. The antihypertensive effect of bisoprolol was associated with significant decreases in brachio-radial pulse wave velocity (from 10.4 +/- 0.4 to 8.6 +/- 0.4 m s-1) and in aortic abdominal diameter (from 18.2 +/- 1.0 to 17.5 +/- 1.3 mm) indicating an increase in arterial distensibility. Further studies are needed to substantiate these observations and to reveal their mechanisms of action.