Study in the treatment of essential hypertension : comprising an account of the results in 64 patients treated by combined oral Pentolinium tartrate and Rauwolfia serpentina, compared with the results in a 2-10 year follow-up in 64 patients following Lumbo-dorsal Sympathectomy

Lumbo-dorsel sympathectomy is e valuable therapy In essential hypertension, improving the prognosis on the natural history of the disease, providing symptomatic relief in the large majority, producing reversal of retinal and electrocardiographic changes and effecting reduction In heart size in a significant proportion. The best results ere in group II, Keith. Oral ansolysen and serpasll followed from 6 months to 2 years, as far as the follow-up goes, achieve all that surgery does. The efficiency in medical control of blood pressure is impaired by the need for constant attendance and close supervision and in selected cases responding to medical therapy, surgery might now be contemplated with a reasonable assurance of success. The side effects of serpasil are sufficiently frequent to Suggest that it should be used alone in patients who are found to respond to it alone, and that it should not be used in combined therapy. A group of cases of essential hypertension, group II Keith, which provided the best results of surgery are in danger of being denied specific therapy for with some current methods of treatment the discomfort of treatment may exceed that of the condition. If it is agreed that oral ansolysen, with or without serpasil, is a practicable treatment for these patients, it is then unreasonable to await developments of serious complications before instituting treatment.