This study was performed in order to evaluate the effects of
ketanserin monotherapy on blood pressure and
glucose metabolism in essential hypertensives with
type 2 diabetes. Twenty-nine patients, 17 males and 12 females, aged 45 to 78 years, with mild
hypertension (DBP greater than or equal to 95 and less than or equal to 105 mmHg) and
type 2 diabetes were studied. After a 4 week run-in period on placebo, each patient received
ketanserin 20 mg b.i.d. for 6 months, with no modification in previous
antidiabetic therapy. SBP, DBP, HR, fasting and post-prandial glycemia were monitored monthly. An oral
glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glycosilated
hemoglobin (HbA1c), urinary
C-peptide, serum
electrolytes,
creatinine,
uric acid, total
cholesterol and 24 h
protein and
glucose urinary excretion were evaluated before and after 3 and 6 months of treatment.
Ketanserin significantly reduced both SBP and DBP (p less than 0.005) with no changes in HR. No significant modifications of fasting and post-prandial glycemia, HbA1c and
C-peptide were observed. Besides,
ketanserin did not affect
glucose tolerance, the levels of
glucose during the OGTT were not significantly different before and
after treatment. None of the patients required any change in
antidiabetic therapy. In conclusion,
ketanserin was effective in the treatment of mild
hypertension in patients with
type 2 diabetes. The absence of effects on
glucose metabolism makes it an especially interesting
drug in such patients.