ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the alfa-blocker doxazosin GITS in CRF patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study recruited 203 CRF patients (creatinine > 1,4 mg/dl for males, creatinine > 1,2 mg/dl for females, or creatinine clearance < 80 ml/min). All patients were receiving ACE inhibitores (63.4%) or angiotensin II antagonist (36.6%) therapy but they had higher blood pressure than recommended for CRF (130/85 mmHg). Patients were clinically evaluated 1, 3 and 6 moths after starting treatment with lercanidipine (10 mg once daily). Patients with high blood pressure in spite of combined therapy with two drugs added doxazosin GITS 4-8 mg once daily to treatment. RESULT: 57 patients rendered evaluable for the study (age 64.8 +/- 12.7 years, 47.4% males and 52.6 females). BP significantly decrease from 164 +/- 17/92 +/- 9 mmHg to 135 +/- 13/78 +/- 8 mmHg. 67.6% patients showed a significant BP reduction and 32.4% gets optimal BP control (< 130/85 mmHg). Two patients (3.6%) showed untoward effects. No biochemical changes were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Doxazosin showed a good antihypertensive effect in CRF patients when used as third drug in resistant severe hypertension. It has a good tolerability profile and showed a neutral profile on biochemical parameters.
