Hemodynamic Effect of Long‐term Treatment with Pindolol in Essential Hypertension with Special Reference to the Resistance and Capacitance Vessels of the Forearm

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Abstract
Patients (10) with essential hypertension were studied at rest, during and after exercise following oral treatment for on an average 16 mo. with a .beta.-adrenoreceptor blocking agent, pindolol. The study was a direct continuation of an earlier, performed after 2 mo. treatment. The hypotensive effect of pindolol was highly significant after 2 as well as 16 mo. of treatment. Heart rate was similarly lowered at 2 and 16 mo., while cardiac output which was significantly lower during exercise after 2 mo., had increased to the pretreatment level after 16 mo. Peripheral vascular resistance, which was not affected after 2 mo., had decreased significantly during and after exercise in the long-term study. A comparison between the hemodynamic situations after 2 and 16 mo. 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.