Improvement of the lipid profile during long-term administration of pindolol and hydrochlorothiazide in patients with hypertension.

The effect of the combined administration of pindolol (10 or 20 mg daily) and hydrochlorothiazide (50 mg daily) on the serum lipid and lipoprotein levels of 34 hypertensive patients was investigated for 6 to 18.5 months (mean 13.3). Placebo control data were compared with the results obtained during treatment periods in each patient by paired t tests. Mean levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased by 17% (p less than 0.01), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased by 4% (p less than 0.01) and the high-density lipoprotein: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio increased by 28% (p less than 0.01). Total serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed no statistically significant changes from control values. These findings suggest that the long-term administration of this beta blocker combined with a diuretic results in serum lipid changes considered beneficial in the evaluation of risk factors for coronary artery disease.