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Beta‐adrenergic blockade and peripheral vascular disease
Author(s) -
Ingram David M.,
House Anthony K.,
Thompson Gertrud H.,
Stacey Michael C.,
Castleden William M.,
Lovegrove Frederick T.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1982.tb124145.x
Subject(s) - medicine , peripheral , claudication , intermittent claudication , vascular disease , cardiology , blood pressure , drug , blood flow , disease , vascular smooth muscle , arterial disease , beta (programming language) , anesthesia , pharmacology , smooth muscle , computer science , programming language
Hypertension and ischaemic heart disease are common accompaniments of peripheral vascular disease, and are often treated with beta‐ blocking drugs. Previous reports, however, have suggested that these drugs may aggravate peripheral vascular disease. A study was designed to investigate this problem with claudication‐distance and skin and muscle blood‐flow studies (as determined by 133Xe clearance) as indices for assessment. In all 11 patients who presented with features of peripheral vascular disease and were found to be taking beta‐ blocking drugs, administration of the drug was stopped, blood pressure was controlled by other means, and the situation was reassessed four weeks later. There was a significant improvement in claudication distance and in resting and post‐exercise muscle blood flow after withdrawal of the drug. This held for both cardio‐ selective and nonselective beta‐blockers. It is recommended that this group of drugs be avoided in the treatment of patients with peripheral vascular disease.