Antihypertensive therapy in elderly patients. Pilot trial of the European Working Party on High Blood Pressure in the Elderly.

A study protocol for a double-blind randomised control trial of hypotensive treatment in elderly hypertensive patients has been tested in a number of pilot centres throughout Europe. It was shown that this study is possible from the logistic point of view. In these elderly patients, hydrochlorothiazide + triamterene treatment with or without methyldopa, maintained a significant hypotensive effect in the absence of major electrolyte disturbances.