Indapamide regresses, but transdermal clonidine does not regress, left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive diabetic patients

This report describes the effects of indapamide versus transdermal clonidine on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensive diabetic patients. A sample of 24 hypertensive diabetic men, aged 40-68 years, with echocardiographically proven LVH was equally divided into 2 groups. Group I was treated with indapamide 2.5 mg/day, and group C with transdermal clonidine weekly. Left ventricular mass and posterior wall and septal thickness were measured by standard echocardiograms done at baseline and every 6 months. At 24 months, treatment crossover was done. Normotension was maintained throughout the study. With indapamide, LVH regression was measurable at 6 months, and left ventricular mass had returned to normal after 18 months. Transdermal clonidine did not regress LVH, but when the patients were switched to indapamide, LVH did regress. Clonidine maintained normal ventricular dimensions after regression had been induced by indapamide.