Abstract
Summary
1. The administration of pentaquine in high dosage to patients with essential hypertension frequently produced a significant reduction in resting arterial blood pressure, usually accompanied by the development ot postural hypotension. This depressor effect occurred abruptly after several days of therapy and receded gradually over a period of several days to several weeks following cessation of therapy.
2. Patients with malignant hypertension exhibited a similar response, but did not require as high dosage. With the fall in blood pressure there was some regression cf neu-roretinitis, headache and gross hematuria: but no significant improvement in renal function.
3. Pentaquine appeared to exert its effects primarily through a sympatholytic action.
4. Toxic reactions to the drug were too frequent and severe to consider its use practicable in the treatment of essential hypertension.
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