first suggested that extensive clinical trial of pargyline hydrochloride was warranted, a large number of reports have appeared concerning the antihypertensive properties of the drug.2-1o Earlier studies of other monoamine oxidase inhibitors indicated that drugs of this f amily tend to reduce blood sugar levels.On the basis of the observation that the use of isoniazid for specific tubercular and mental disorders tended also to improve the appetite in certain instances, Weiss and co-workersll decided to employ iproniazid in patients with poor appetite due to hepatitis, cirrhosis, anorexia nervosa and other conditions. Forty-two of the 61 patients selected responded by exhibiting increased appeptite, better nutrition, weight gain and an improved sense of well-being. The only significantly consistent laboratory finding in those patients who responded favorably was a definite hypoglycemia. When the drug was withdrawn, the blood sugar returned to its normal level. Blood sugar levels could be again depressed by reinstituting therapy. The beneficial symptomatic response coincided with the reductions in blood sugar. No consistent changes in other laboratory parameters could be demonstrated.Leak and Dormandy 12 used iproniazid and nialamide in 15 patients with angina pectoris. The reduction of the glucose tolerance induced by these drugs appeared to correlate with an improvement of the symptoms of angina pectoris. It is postulated that monoamine oxidase inhibitors may alter the primary sources of energy utilized by the heart muscle and thus modify the symptoms of angina pectoris.It is the purpose of the present study to determine the influence of pargyline hydrochloride on blood sugar and any possible relationship between the magnitude of the antihypertensive and hypoglycemic response.
MATERIAL AND METHODSPargyline hydrochloride is a potent antihypertensive agent. It is a nonhydrazine inhibitor of the enzyme, monoamine oxdase, both in vitro and in vivo. Chemically, the drug is identified as N-benzyl-N-methyl-2-propynylamine hydrochloride. The clinical response to the drug is not immediate, and its effects may persist for some time after it has been discontinued. It is administered orally.Fifteen ambulatory hypertensive patients were selected for study. There were six men and nine women with an average age of 60 years (range, 39 to 76 years).
