Treatment of isolated systolic hypertension with labetalol in the elderly.

Antihypertensive therapy with labetalol was evaluated in a prospective, randomized, multicenter, double-blind study of 133 elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension (standing systolic blood pressure [BP] greater than or equal to 160 mm Hg; diastolic BP less than 95 mm Hg). Following a placebo-washout period, patients received either labetalol (n = 70) or placebo (n = 63), which was titrated as necessary from 100 to 400 mg twice a day over a 6-week period. Once the BP was controlled (standing systolic BP less than 160 mm Hg, and greater than or equal to 10-mm Hg decrease from baseline) or the maximum dosage had been given, patients continued receiving the same regimen until the end of the titration period and throughout a 4-week maintenance period. Blood pressure was controlled in 57 (81%) of 70 of the labetalol-treated patients (86% receiving less than or equal to 200 mg twice a day) compared with 34 (54%) of 63 of the placebo-treated patients. Throughout the active treatment periods, BP was significantly lower in patients treated with labetalol compared with those taking placebo; mean standing systolic BP decreased 26 mm Hg in the labetalol group vs 9 mm Hg in the placebo group. Side effects were generally mild, and the dropout rates due to adverse experiences were similar between treatment groups (14% in the labetalol group vs 10% in the placebo group). In summary, labetalol can effectively lower systolic BP in the elderly without causing adverse orthostatic changes.

Comparison of labetalol and prazosin in hypertensive patients using automated ambulatory monitoring.

The differential effects of prazosin and labetalol on blood pressure and heart rate in the clinic and during daily activity were measured in a double-blind study utilizing automatic ambulatory monitors. One hundred five patients with essential hypertension (sitting diastolic blood pressure equal to 101 mm Hg) were randomly assigned to receive prazosin (n = 52) or labetalol (n = 53). Sixty-eight percent of labetalol-treated patients and 50 percent of prazosin-treated patients achieved blood pressure control during clinic visits (sitting diastolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg) and were subsequently monitored for 12 hours of normal daily activities. Ambulatory monitoring revealed labetalol-treated patients to have significantly greater decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressures during daily activity than prazosin-treated patients. Heart rate and rate-pressure product were significantly reduced in the labetalol group but not in the prazosin group. It is concluded that the potential benefits of dual adrenergic blockade, not readily apparent in the non-stressful clinic environment, become more evident during the course of daily activities.

Sequentially administered 5-azacitidine and amsacrine in refractory adult acute leukemia: a phase I-II trial of the Southeastern Cancer Study Group.

The Southeastern Cancer Study Group conducted a phase I-II trial of sequentially administered 5-azacitidine and amsacrine in patients with refractory adult acute leukemia from September 1980 to March 1983. The 5-azacitidine was administered by continuous iv infusion on Days 1-4 at doses ranging from 112 to 200 mg/m2/day, while amsacrine was given at doses ranging from 75 to 150 mg/m2/day on Days 5-8. The doses of 5-azacitidine and amsacrine were alternately escalated through six dose levels during the phase I portion of the trial. Of 128 patients entered, 102 (80%) were evaluable for response. Remission was achieved in 13 of 80 evaluable patients with acute myeloid leukemia, in one of 12 evaluable patients with acute lymphoid leukemia, and in none of 11 patients with blastic transformation of chronic granulocytic leukemia. Three remissions occurred in patients with acute myeloid leukemia who were refractory to initial induction chemotherapy with cytarabine and anthracycline combination chemotherapy. Remissions were relatively durable, lasting a median of 28 weeks in the 13 patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia (range, 14-54 weeks). Toxic effects included universal severe myelosuppression, hyperbilirubinemia at a frequency and severity similar to those seen with amsacrine used as a single agent, moderately severe stomatitis and diarrhea, three incidents of amsacrine-related cardiac dysrhythmia, and a single case of probable drug-related cardiomyopathy. This combination has activity in the treatment of myeloid leukemia, which is primarily resistant to cytarabine and anthracyclines, and could have a role in primary management.

Baclofen for the treatment of acute low-back syndrome. A double-blind comparison with placebo.

The efficacy and safety of baclofen (30-80 mg daily) for the treatment of acute low-back syndrome were evaluated in a 14-day, double-blind, randomized study of 200 patients (100 baclofen, 100 placebo). Patients with initially severe or extremely severe symptoms (as opposed to moderate symptoms) benefitted most from treatment with baclofen. The incidence of adverse effects was significantly higher in the baclofen group; however, most were mild to moderate and disappeared in all but two patients who required a reduction in dosage, without reduced drug efficacy. Baclofen was shown to be effective, safe, and well-tolerated for the treatment of patients with acute low-back syndrome.

Multiple-dose comparison of suprofen, aspirin, and placebo in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain.

The effectiveness and safety of suprofen 200 mg, aspirin 650 mg, and placebo in the treatment of moderate to severe pain were compared in a 72-hour multiple-dose, double-blind, parallel, randomized study in 75 adults suffering from musculoskeletal pain. Suprofen was superior to aspirin and placebo for pain relief, total pain relief scores, pain severity, activity impairment, comparative evaluation of activity impairment, and comparative evaluation of pain and sleep, with differences achieving statistical significance for most parameters at the 24- to 72-hour evaluation points. 1 mild, transient side effect occurred in the suprofen group, 3 in the placebo group, and 4 of moderate intensity in the aspirin group. The effectiveness of multiple-dose treatment of musculoskeletal pain with suprofen 200 mg is superior to that of aspirin and placebo.