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Abstract
A prospective evaluation was started in 1976 to study the influence of diuretics alone or combined with beta-blockers on serum lipoproteins in normal or hypertensive subjects. Compared to placebo conditions, 4 or 6-weeks’ mono therapy with various diuretics significantly (p<0.0-5) increased the beta-lipoprotein fraction (furosemide, 80 mg/day or chlorthalidone, 100 mg/day; n = 16) or low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (chlorthalidone, 100 mg/day, n=27 men: tienilic acid, 250 mg/day, n = 16 men, clopamide, 5 mg/day, n=I7 men: or muzolimine, 20 to 40 mg/day, n = 13 men or post-menopausal women). No increase in LDL-C was noted in 43 men (32 normal, 11 with mild hypertension) treated with indapamide, 2.5 mg/day. Serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and apoproteins A1, A2 and B were not consistently changed by any of these agents. In women, chlorthalidone (100 mg/day) significantly increased LDL-C in the post-menopausal (n=18) but not in the pre-menopausal (n=22) state. Increases in LDL-C caused by chlorthalidone monotherapy were prevented or reversed by the addition of a beta-blocker; usually propranolol or atenolol (n = 18): increases in LDL-C during clopamide monotherapy were reversed after the addition of the beta-blocker pindolol (10 mg/day, n = 17). In all studies, variations in beta-lipoprotein or LDL-C levels could not be explained by changes in blood volume, serum glucose or insulin and did not correlate with alterations in blood pressure, plasma potassium, renin, aldosterone, adrenaline or noradrenaline. These observations indicate that various diuretics may increase serum LDL-C in men or post-menopausal women. Pre-menopausal women may often be protected from this side-effect. Long-term studies are now needed to clarify the pathogenic and prognostic relevance of lipoprotein changes induced by diuretics. In the meantime, it is of clinical interest that indapamide had no significant effect on serum lipoproteins and that certain beta-blockers appear to prevent or reverse increases in LDL-C during diuretic treatment in men and post-menopausal women.