Treatment of mild to moderate hypertension. Diuretic or beta-blockers?

The effectiveness of diuretic and β-blockers was analyzed in relation to pretreatment plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma volume (PV) and patient's age in mild to moderate essential hypertension. Following results were obtained. 1) Diuretic was more effective in patients with low and normal PRA, high and normal PV, and elderly age, compared to patients with high PRA, low PV, and juvenile age, respectively. 2) Effect of β-blockers (pindolol and oxprenolol) was not different among PRA and PV subclasses. It was more effective in juvenile patients, especially younger than 35 years old compared with elderly patients. 3) In patients with low and normal PRA or with high and normal PV, and in elderly patients, diuretic was more effective than β-blockers. 4) In juvenile patients β-blockers were more effective than diuretic.