Abstract

Hydrallazine (Apresoline - Ciba) first achieved popularity as an antihypertensive drug because of the belief that it would reduce diastolic blood pressure while increasing renal blood flow. In doses that can be tolerated, it has little antihypertensive effect in most patients; it increases peripheral blood flow by direct stimulation of the heart, which is often accompanied by myocardial ischaemia, and anginal attacks. It does not appear to improve impaired renal blood flow.