Amlodipine compared to nitrendipine for the treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension.

This study compared the efficacy and safety of 8 weeks of open treatment with the dihydropyridine calcium antagonists amlodipine and nitrendipine in mild-to-moderate hypertension. Interim analysis of data from 74 patients (43 male, 31 female) showed that amlodipine normalized diastolic blood pressure (less than or equal to 90 mmHg) in 95% of patients compared with 83% of nitrendipine-treated patients. Nitrendipine produced a statistically significant increase in heart rate at 2 and 4 weeks of therapy but there was no significant change in heart rate in amlodipine-treated patients. Amlodipine-treated patients reported fewer adverse events (26%) than did the nitrendipine-treated group (47%), with two patients from the nitrendipine group discontinuing treatment due to treatment-related adverse events. Adverse events in the amlodipine-treated group were mild to moderate. The incidence of flushing was higher in nitrendipine-treated patients (25%) than in amlodipine-treated patients (10%). This relative difference in the incidence of vasodilator-related side effects is probably explained by the gradual onset of effect with amlodipine.

The addition of doxazosin to the treatment regimen of hypertensive patients not responsive to nifedipine.

The efficacy and safety of doxazosin, a selective alpha 1-inhibitor, were assessed in hypertensive patients who failed to respond to nifedipine. Fifty patients were entered into a study that involved three phases: (1) a 2-week baseline period, (2) a 10-week period in which patients received doxazosin, 1 to 8 mg, once daily, and (3) a 4-week maintenance period. After 14 weeks, all 43 efficacy evaluable patients were considered therapy successes (sitting diastolic blood pressure either less than or equal to 90 mm Hg or greater than or equal to 10 mm Hg reduction) at a mean daily dose of 3.1 mg. Ninety-three percent achieved blood pressure control (sitting diastolic blood pressure less than or equal to 90 mm Hg) at a mean dose of 3.1 mg once daily. By the final treatment visit, sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressures of efficacy evaluable patients were reduced (p less than 0.05) by 16/18 mm Hg from a mean baseline of 157/103 mm Hg to a final value of 141/85 mm Hg. The most prevalent side effect was vertigo (six patients). Most side effects were mild or moderate and disappeared or were tolerated with continued therapy. No clinically significant laboratory changes were apparent, and no trends were observed with regard to organ systems or correlations with dose or duration of treatment. The investigators' global assessment was excellent or good for 98% of patients for both efficacy and toleration. From baseline to final visit there was a highly significant reduction of 17% (p less than 0.001) in the calculated coronary heart disease risk score, which was based on the Framingham equation.

[Determination of alpha1-fetoprotein in bloodstains by means of electrophoresis on cellulose acete (author's transl)]. / Nachweis von alpha 1-Fetoprotein an Blutspuren mit Hilfe der Celluloseacetatfolien-(CAF)-Elektrophorese

The distinction of foetal from adult blood stains prepared from 219 cord blood samples was possible, without exception, up to eight months by means of alpha1-fetoprotein precipitation, carried out by immuno-electrophoresis on cellulose acetate (Biotest) instead of agar gel, as described by Patzelt, Geserick and Lignitz. The material carrying the blood stains (glass, wood, paper and linen) did not influence the results.