Effects of Bopindolol on Renal Function

Abstract

The effect of the long-acting beta-blocking agent bopindolol on renal function was assessed in 10 healthy normotensive volunteers and 10 hypertensive patients. The subjects received 1 mg bopindolol at 8 p.m. for 21 days. The following determinations were made at 8 a.m. on recumbent, fasting subjects before day 0 (D0) and 12 h after day 1 (D1) the first dose of bopindolol, and on the 21st day of treatment (D21): blood pressure (diastolic = DBP), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (RPF) as reflected by the plasma disappearance of 51Cr-EDTA and 125I-hippuran, plasma concentrations and 2- and 24-h urinary excretion of electrolytes, creatinine, and proteins and osmolality of the urine. Plasma renin activity was assessed on standing subjects. Following bopindolol administration GFR, RPF, and filtration fraction remained stable, in spite of a fall of DBP from 80 +/- 7 to 76 +/- 4 and to 72 +/- 9 mm Hg in normotensives (p less than 0.05) and from 106 +/- 11-96 +/- 10 and to 91 +/- 8 mm Hg in hypertensives (p less than 0.05) on D1 and D21, respectively. The drops in DBP at D1 correlated weakly with the pretreatment renin levels (p = 0.074, p less than 0.05). All the other variables remained stable, including diuresis, free water clearance, and fractional sodium excretion. It is concluded that in contrast to many other anti-hypertensive drugs including several beta blockers, bopindolol does not reduce renal function during short- or medium-term treatment in normal volunteers or hypertensive patients.

Keywords

Affiliated Institutions

• University of Geneva CH

Related Publications