Management minoxidil: A of severe childhood hypertension controlled clinical study with

The therapeutic e~ficacy of four antihypertensive regimens (minoxidil, propranolol, and hydrochlorothiazide," propranolol and hydrochlorothiazide," methyldopa and hydrochlorothiazide," and hydrochlorothiazide alone) was evaluated in one chiM with systolic hypertension and in eight children with systolic and diastolic hypertension. The mean blood pressure of 148/98 +_ 8/4 rnm Hg observed during the hydrochlorothiazide control period fell to 142/88 +_ 8/4 mm Hg following methyldopa and hydrochlorothiazide, 141/85 +_ 6/2 mm Hg following propranolol and hydrochlorothiazide, and 128/74 +_ 4/2 mm Hg following minoxidil, propranolol, and hydrochlorothiazide. The only side effect directly associated with administration of minoxidil was hypertrichosis. The effectiveness of minoxidil in the present study suggests that this drug offers an important ac(]unct to current antihypertensive therapy in children.