[Antihypertensive effect of urapidil in mild to moderate arterial hypertension. Randomized, double-blind versus placebo study].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of urapidil (a new central and peripheral antihypertensive agent) in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. METHODS: Thirty-one patients were randomized, double-blindly, to receive either placebo (15 patients) or urapidil (16 patients) for 3 months. The initial dose of urapidil was 30mg twice daily, per oral. The dose was increased progressively till achievement of good blood pressure control or the dose of 60mg three times a day. RESULTS: Seventy percent of the patients on urapidil group responded to therapy against 30% on the placebo group. There were 3 cases of hypertensive crises (2 on urapidil and 1 on placebo) on the early therapy. The adverse events with urapidil were unfrequent and the most common were headache and dizziness. There were no modification on blood sugar and lipids level. CONCLUSION: Urapidil appears to be a safe antihypertensive agent in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension. It also did not demonstrate any clinical effect on the carbohydrates and lipids profile.