Long-term treatment with pindolol for 16 months maintained significant hypotensive effects, driven by decreased systemic vascular resistance rather than early reductions in cardiac output.
Observational (n=10)
Ten patients with essential hypertension have been studied at rest, during and after exercise following oral treatment for on an average 16 months with a beta-adrenoreceptor blocking agent, pindolol. The study was a direct continuation of an earlier, performed after 2 months' treatment. The hypotensive effect of pindolol was highly significant after 2 as well as 16 months of treatment. Heart rate was similarly lowered at 2 and 16 months, while carciac output, which was significantly lower during exercise after 2 months, had increased to the pretreatment level after 16 months. Peripheral vascular resistance, which was not affected after 2 months, had decreased significantly during and after exercise in the long-term study. A comparison between the hemodynamic situations after 2 and 16 months thus suggests that while a decrease in cardiac output is an early mechanism in the lowering of BP, changes in systemic vascular resistance seem to be more important after long-term treatment with pindolol.
Atterhög et al. (1977) conducted an observational in Essential hypertension (n=10). Pindolol vs. Pretreatment and 2 months of treatment was evaluated on Hemodynamic effects (blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, peripheral vascular resistance). Long-term treatment with pindolol for 16 months maintained significant hypotensive effects, driven by decreased systemic vascular resistance rather than early reductions in cardiac output.