A Clinical Appraisal of Pentapyrrolidinium (M&B 2050) in Hypertensive Patients By Epwarp D. Freis, M.D., Epwarp A. Parrenopr, M.D., Lawrence 8. Liienrretp, M.D., AND Joun C. Ross, M.D. The new ganglionic blocking agent, pentapyrrolidinium or M&B 2050, appears to have several distinct advantages over hexamethonium in the treatment of severe hypertension. These advantages include longer duration of action, greater potency, less tolerance, less interference with intestinal motility, and, most important, a more uniform response from day to day on oral administration. However, critical adjustment of dosage is necessary and side effects are not infrequent, the most disturbing being postural faintness and impotence. HE advantages as well as the deficiencies of hexamethonium in the treatment. of hypertensive patients! have stimulated interest in the development of ganglionic blocking agents which will retain the desirable effects of hexamethonium and eliminate its undesirable qualitics. By the very nature of its action it can be expected that any drug which acts by inhibiting transmission through au- tonomic ganglia will exhibit many of the side effects of such blockade. However, it seems possible that there may be differences in the predilection of various compounds for certain ganglia as compared with others; and also that other advantages might be gained, such as longer duration of action, lessened tolerance, greater and more predictable absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, which would decrease From The Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Georgetown University Hospital, the Department of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, and the Veterans Administration Hospital, Wash ington, D.C. Supported in part by research grants from the National Heart Institute of the National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service (Grant H-720), and the Squibb Institute for Medical Research, New Brunswick, N. J. Pentapyrrolidinium bitartrate was supplied by May & Baker Ltd., England and by Wyeth Labora- tories, Philadelphia, Pa. Sponsored (in part) by the Veterans Adminis- tration and published with the approval of the Chief Medical Director. The statements and conclusions published by the authors are a result of their own study and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of the Veterans Administration. 540 the hazards and inconveniences attendant upon hexamethonium administration. Recently, a new ganglionic blocking agent, pentamethylene 1:5-bis-(1-methyl-pyrrolidin- ium bitartrate) (pentapyrrolidinium or M&B 2050) has been synthesized by Libman, Pain and Slack.? Detailed pharmacologie studies in animals have been carried out by Wein and Mason. Preliminary clinical trials by Campbell and Maxwell suggested that the new drug was more potent, longer-acting, and produced a more predictable response on oral administration than hexamethonium.® Smirk found that pentapyrrolidinium administered orally was more effective and better tolerated by hyper- tensive patients than was hexamethonium.® The purpose of the present report is to describe the experiences in this clinic with this new agent in hypertensive patients. For the sake of clarity all dosage of both hexamethonium and M&B 2050 will be referred to in terms of the amount of ion. Hexamethonium was admin- istered in the form of the chloride and M&B 2050 as the bitartrate salt. Potency AnD Duration or Action or M&B 2050 as ComMpaRED witH HEXAMETHONIUM Four hospitalized hypertensive patients were given hexamethonium intravenously in an amount sufficient to produce a significant re- duction of arterial pressure. Several days later pentapyrrolidinium was injected slowly intra- venously until the fall of blood pressure was similar to that produced by the hexameth- Circulation, Volume IX, April, 1954 FREIS, PARTENOPE, LILIENFIELD AND ROSE 541 TaBLeE 1.—Comparison of Single Intravenous Dosages of Hecamethonium (C6) and Pentapyrrolidinium (U&B 2050) in Previously Untreated Hypertensive Patients Blood Reduction of Blood Pressure Change in Heart | Dose, Duration of Effect Pressure mm. Hg Rate Beats Min. mg. of Ion In Hours Patient __ _ . noe coe _—_ __ ae ee SS — _—— -|- — C.B. 195/120 28/22 48/35 0 —4 18 4 6 10 R. C. 220/145 65/30 72/38 +16 +18 50 7 6 10 A. 5S. 215/115 68/27 92/28 —4 —4 20 4 6 11 P.D. 185/135 60/20 50/30 +18 +16 12 3 5 9 onium. These patients had received no prior therapy with either agent. On the basis of these acute comparative studies M&B 2050 was approximately five (range four to seven) times more potent than hexamethonium (table 1). The average dura- tion of action of M&B 2050 also was 42 per cent (range 40 to 46 per cent) longer than that of hexamethonium. During an intravenous titration with hexa- methonium the blood pressure falls rapidly when the effective dose has been reached. When M&B 2050 is administered intrave- nously, however, the reduction in the blood pressure proceeds more gradually over a period of 10 minutes or more following an effective dose. Thus, intravenous titration with M&B 2050 is more difficult than with hexameth- onium since the effective dose may be exceeded. This could be avoided in some measure by injecting the drug quite slowly with the patient sitting on the side of the bed, since postural hypotension appears before supine hypoten- sion. RELATION BETWEEN EFFECTIVE PARENTERAL AND OraAL Dosages or M&B 2050 Following intravenous titration 10 hyper- tensive patients were treated with M&B 2050 subcutaneously twice daily either in the hos- pital or, occasionally, in the home. If treatment was on an ambulatory basis, the blood pressure was recorded five times daily in the home. At the end of one week parenteral therapy was discontinued and the drug administered orally every eight hours. The dosages were increased every other day until the average daily blood pressure approximated that achieved during parenteral therapy. The mean effective parenteral dose of M&B 2050 was 15 mg. per day, whereas the mean daily oral dose was 280 mg. Thus, the effective oral dose was approximately 20 times as great as the effective parenteral dose. This relation- ship between oral and parenteral dosage is similar to that previously observed with hexamethonium.’ It also agrees in general with urinary recoveries of M&B 2050 in animals, which indicated that less than 20 per cent of an orally administered dose is absorbed.’ Pentapyrrolidinium given orally differed from hexamethonium administered orally in one important respect. The onset of action was far more predictable than with hexamethonium, beginning approximately one hour after an ef- fective dose. There also was less variation from day to day in the response to a given dose of M&B 2050 than had previously been ex- perienced with the response to hexamethonium.? However, as will be discussed later, many ex- traneous factors influenced the response to M&B 2050 so that the extent of blood pressure reduction was not completely uniform from one day to another. The improvement in pre- dictability of response after M&B 2050 as compared with hexamethonium was one of de- gree, therefore, rather than being an absolute qualitative difference. ToLERANCE TO M&B 2050 During one week of therapy with M &B 2050, administered subcutaneously twice daily to 10 hypertensive patients, there was no evidence of development of tolerance. In five of these listed in table 2 at the end of the week the mean effective dose of M&B 2050 was 0.5 times less (range — 1.8 to +1.6 times) than the initial titrating dose. Five of these patients previously 542 PENTAPYRROLIDINIUM IN HYPERTENSION had been under continuous therapy with hexamethonium for periods of 6 to 19 months. Review of their records showed that at the end of the first week of therapy with hexameth- onium given subcutaneously, dosages had been raised progressively to a mean dose which was 1.9 times (range 1.5 to 2.5 times) the initial titrating dose. Thus, during this short period of observation the degree of tolerance induced by M&B 2050 administered subcutaneously was far less than that experienced previously with hexamethonium. If oral administration was begun without any preceding period of parenteral therapy, there frequently was a transient hypotensive response lasting one to several days and occur- ring at a level considerably below the final effective maintenance dose. Following this, the increase in tolerance to the drug was very slight. For example, in 15 patients treated with oral M&B 2050 alone for periods varying from three to six weeks, the mean effective dose at the beginning of therapy was 232 mg. (range 45 to 518 mg.) per day of the ion; while at the end of the above period the average effective dosage was 275 mg. (range 135 to 562 mg.) per day. Cross ToLERANCE BETWEEN M&B 2050 AND HEXAMETHONIUM The degree of cross tolerance existing be- tween M&B 2050 and hexamethonium seemed to be very small. This was estimated in five patients who had been treated continuously with hexamethonium, subcutaneously admin- TaBle 2.—Effect of Hexamethonium and Pentapyr rolidinium in the Same Patients Showing Develop ment of Tolerance to Each and Degree of Cross Tolerance Pentapyrrolidinium Hexamethonium Ion, Effective Ton, Effective Dose Dose (mg.) (mg.) Patient After 6 to wy Aft va Af Initial 4 wk 18 mos. of | Initial i we ALS. 8 | 12 20 2 1.5 H. B. 30 75 100 ll 10 C.P. 2 4 | 75 1.8 3 O. A. 30 45 90 1 11 J.C. 50 100 120 20 i istered for periods of six months to two years (table 2). When comparison is made between the initial effective dose of hexamethonium obtained by intravenous titration (prior to any previous therapy with ganglionic blocking agents) and the initial effective titrating dose of M&B 2050 (after prolonged therapy with hexamethonium) the data indicate that M&B 2050 was approximately 2.5 times more active (range 0 to 4 times) than hexamethonium. Thus, in these hexamethonium-treated pa- tients, the relative potency of M&B 2050 was only half as great as in patients previously un- treated with ganglionic blocking agents. However, when comparison was made in these same patients between the initial titra- tion dose of M&B 2050 and the dosage of hexamethonium required after prolonged ther- apy with the latter drug, the mean relative potency of M&B 2050 was 13.5 times (range 5 to 35 times) that of hexamethonium. It would appear, therefore, that the degree of cross tolerance between the two drugs is so slight that for practical clinical purposes one may consider that tolerance to hexamethonium does not induce significant tolerance to M&B 2050. Factors PorENTIATING THE HyYPpoTEeNSIVE Response to M&B 2050 Since the majority of the patients under treatment with M&B 2050 recorded their blood pressures at home, it was possible to study in some detail the various extraneous factors which influenced the blood pressure. These were as follows: Postural Effects. (1) When the patient was up and about a smaller dosage usually was necessary to lower the blood pressure than when he was supine. Henee, a larger dose usually was required at bedtime. (2) Severe postural hypotension with faintness occurred more frequently after the morning dose than at other times. (3) Some of the patients noticed increased nocturia accompanied by decreased urinary frequency during the day. Additive K'ffects of Other Vasodilating Influ- ences. (1) The ingestion of aleohol frequently was followed by marked potentiation of the hypotensive action of M&B 2050. The amount FREIS, PARTENOPE, LILIENFIELD AND ROSE 043 of alcohol need not be large since one or two “cocktails” was sufficient to induce significant additional reductions of blood pressure. (2) The ingestion of a large meal at times acted as a potentiating factor. (3) Vigorous exercise such as pushing a lawn mower was followed at times by an additional fall of blood pressure. This was in contrast to the untreated individual whose blood pressure usually increases with exercise. (4) During the hot summer weather the dosage of M&B 2050 frequently had to be reduced because of marked hypotension. The incidence of postural faintness or frank syncopal attacks increased at the onset of a period of unusually hot weather. Salt Depletion. (1) When patients were placed on diets rigidly restricted in sodium the hypo- tensive effect of M&B 2030 was exaggerated. Such individuals became unusually susceptible to postural hypotension, while the margin widened between the level of blood pressure in the erect position as compared with the supine position. For this reason it seemed advan- tageous to permit a moderate salt intake in all of the noncardiac patients. In this way dosages could be raised to the point of influ- encing the supine pressure without inducing postural syncope. (2) Mercurial diuretics were administered at times to the cardiac patients in order to control the signs of congestive heart failure although the necessity for using them usually decreased greatly after the institution of hypotensive therapy. It was noted that as the edema accumulated the dosages of M&B 2050 became progressively less effective. However, immediately following the mercurial-induced diuresis marked reductions of blood pressure occurred. For this reason it. was necessary in some instances to reduce the dosage of M&B 2050 for a day or two following the mercurial injection. (8) The potentiating action of hot weather described above may have been due in part to excessive salt loss. THERAPEUTIC RESULTS Twenty-seven patients were treated with M&B 2050 orally as the sole medication for periods varying from two to six months. All could be classified as having severe, “fixed” hypertension. Twelve had grade LV hyperten- sion with papilledema or had shown evidence of papilledema in the recent past (21 of the total group had received previous therapy with other drugs), nine had grade III and six had grade II hypertension.° Dosages of the drug were administered as close to every eight hours as possible, the first dose being taken immediately after arising in the morning. Because of its long duration of action, the dosages of M&B 2050 should be widely spaced in order to avoid the additive effect. of one dose overlapping on another.‘ Following the initial period of adjustment the mean daily effective dose was 300 mg. (range 135 to 630 mg.) of the ion. This was divided as follows: the average morning requirement was 95 mg., the afternoon dose 86 mg., and the mean bedtime dose was 122 mg. The larger dosage at night was well tolerated and usually was required to lower the blood pressure while the patient was in the supine position. The results are based on the means of many home and clinic readings taken with the pa- tient in the sitting position (table 3). Record- ings taken with the patient in the supine position were somewhat higher, and those taken in the erect position were somewhat lower. The control value in each case was the level of blood pressure taken prior to any therapy after 48 hours or more of rest in bed in the hospital. The average pretreatment blood pressure for the entire group was 230/135 (range 180/110 to 260/160) mm. Hg; the mean post-treatment TaBLe 3.—Mean Reduction of Blood Pressure in 27% Hypertensive Patients Treated with Pentapyr- rolidinium. Basis of Comparison Is Hospital Control Blood Pressure Prior to Any Form of Drug Therapy Reduction of Blood Pressure No. % Systolic 60 mm. Hg or more......... 15 55 40 mm. Hg or more......... 22 $1 20 mm. Hg or more......... 26 96 Less than 20 mm. Hg....... 1 4 Diastolic 30 mm. Hg or more......... 14 52 20 mm. Hg or more......... 23 85 15 mm. Hg or more......... 24 89 Less than 15 mm. Hg....... 3 11 544 PENTAPYRROLIDINIUM IN HYPERTENSION blood pressure was 170/110 (range 130/95 to 210/130) mm. Hg. Slightly more than 50 per cent of the patients exhibited a reduction of 60 mm. Hg or more in systolic pressure and of 30 mm. Hg or more in the diastolic pressure. Twenty-two, or 81 per cent, showed systolic reductions of 40 mm. Hg or more and 23, or 85 per cent exhibited diastolic reductions of 20 mm. Hg or more. The hypotensive response to M&B 2050 was somewhat more predictable than the response to hexamcthonium and once a main- tenance dosage level had been established, the necessity for constantly modifying it was not nearly as great. Nevertheless, variability pro- duced by the extraneous additive factors pre- viously discussed or by unknown causes was sufficient to be an ever-present potential source of inconvenience and even hazard to many patients. For example, patient C. P., a 42 year old, white, male teacher with ‘malignant’? hyper- tension in therapeutic remission was taking 3 doses per day of 100, 150 and 350 mg. of M&B 2050 in the morning, afternoon and at bedtime, respectively. On arising in the morning his blood pressure usually was 190/110 mm. Hg; this fell after the morning dose to 140/95 mm. Hg. It then rose gradually to 190/120 mm. Hg at 2 p.m. but fell again after the 2 p.m. dose to 160/110 mm. Hg. During the evening the blood pressure rose gradually to 190/120 mm. Hg. Two hours after his morning dose on a hot July day he walked up a steep hill to the hos- pital for his regular office visit. When he ap- peared in the clinic he was pale and on the TaBle 4.—Incidence of Side Effects Produced by Pentapyrrolidinitum in 27 Hypertensive Patients Side Effect No Y Impaired visual accommoda- tion. 2. eee 14 52 Dry mouth.......00..0........ 12 40 Constipation of any degree... 11 40 Not controlled by neostyg- mine. ................0.0. 4 15 Isnemas required............ 0 0 Postural faintness. ........... 8 30 Postural syncope............. 1 4 Impotence.................... 8 30 verge of syncope. His blood pressure sitting in a chair was 90/75 mm. Hg. Immediately after lying down the pressure rose to 165/115 mm. Hg, and after resting supine for an hour the patient was able to go about his usual day’s activities, SIDE EFFECTS The so-called side effects of M&B 2050 were similar to those experienced with hexameth- onium; all could be accounted for on the basis of ganglionic blockade. The most prominent of these were postural faintness, dry mouth and loss of visual accommodation (table 4). These side effects were most pronounced when the blood pressure was the lowest. Many of the patients required reading glasses with positive lenses for occupations requiring accommoda- tion for near vision and tinted glasses to wear in bright sunlight because of the failure of pupillary constriction. In contrast to the lack of constipation in patients treated with parenteral M&B 2050, oral ingestion of the drug was accompanied by some degree of constipation in many instances (table 4). It was not as severe as that observed in patients taking hexamethonium and in most instances responded to oral neostigmine in doses of 15 to 45 mg. In a few instances irritant cathartics also were necessary. Paralytic ileus and severe obstipation did not occur. One of the patients who suffered severe bouts of acute gastric dilatation when taking parenteral hexamethonium suffered a similar attack on oral M&B 2050. Impotence was a frequent and troublesome side cffect in the male. In general the middle aged and elderly patients suffered complete impotence during the entire period of treat- ment whereas most of the younger patients were only partially incapacitated. The urethane of @-methylcholine (Urecholine), 10 mg. under the tongue every hour for threc hours preceding sexual intercourse, seemed to benefit some of the patients, but it is impossible to say whether the effect of Urecholine was real or psychogenic. A few patients complained of chilly sensa- tions in a cold environment probably due to failure of reflex vasoconstriction in the skin. This required that they dress warmly during FREIS, PARTENOPE, LILIENFIELD AND ROSE 545 cooler weather in order to conserve body heat. None of the patients taking M&B 2050 suf- fered from inability to empty the urinary blad- der; one of these patients had been unable to take hexamethonium because of this side ef- fect. Certain side reactions, particularly dryness of the mouth and frequent postural faintness, were most prominent during the early stages of treatment but tended to diminish as treat- ment progressed, whereas other side effects such as impotence remained unchanged during the entire period of treatment. Discussion The purposes of this study were twofold: to determine, first, whether M&B 2050 pos- sessed therapeutic advantages over hexameth- onium and, second, whether it could be given safely and effectively by the oral route of ad- ministration. Our findings in general are in agreement with those of Smirk.® In regard to the first question M&B 2030 appeared to be superior to hexamethonium in several re- spects: 1. The degree of tolerance induced by M&B 2050 definitely was less than that observed with hexamethonium. The negligible degree of cross tolerance was of theoretic as well as of practical importance. The reason for the de- velopment of “tolerance” to the hypotensive effects of hexamcthonium has not been clear. It was unknown whether this represented a true drug tolerance or whether, despite con- tinued ganglionic blockade, some other hyper- tensive mechanism operating humorally, or in some other way not dependent upon transmis- sion of impulses through automatic ganglia, had been activated to restore the hypertension. The fact that after the development of tolerance to hexamethonium the patients remained sensi- tive to relatively small doses of M&B 2050 suggests strongly that the resistance to hexamethonium represented true drug. toler- ance, From the practical point of view the lesser degree of tolerance experienced with M&B 2050 permitted management of the pa- tient with less frequent need for dosage read- justment, 2. When compared with hexamethonium, the duration of action of pentapyrrolidinium was longer than that of hexamethonium and permitted less frequent administration. 3. The response following oral administration of M&B 2050 was more predictable than that observed after hexamcthonium. The effective dosage range was not as wide and the variations of blood pressure response on a given dose from day to day not as great. The greater pre- dictability of response may have been related at least in part to the lesser effect of M&B 2050 on intestinal motility than that produced by hexamethonium. The degree of constipation and stasis in the gastrointestinal tract produced by oral M&B 2050 could be controlled usually by simple measures such as the administration of oral neostygmine. As a result accumulation of the drug in the gut seldom occurred. In the case of oral hexamethonium such accumulation of the drug may be followed by absorption of large dosages over a long period of time leading to severe and persistent hypotensive reactions. Although syncopal attacks occurred after M&B 2050, the prolonged collapse reactions often accompanied by ileus were not seen as they had been with hexamethonium. Nevertheless, oral therapy with M&B 2050 left much to be desired. Some of the patients were controlled, with minimal side effects, but in the majority critical dosage adjustment was required, slight excesses producing hypotensive reactions and slight under-dosage failing to induce a significant hypotensive response. In addition, in order to lower the blood pressure, it usually was necessary to elevate dosage to a point where side effects were frequent par- ticularly during the early weeks of adjustment. During the treatment period it was observed frequently that vasodilator influences such as heat, alcohol, exercise and food, which ordi- narily would have no effect on blood pressure, produced a significant hypotensive effect in the patient treated with M &B 2050. Under normal conditions such vasodilator influences are opposed immediately by homeostatic vaso- constrictor responses mediated over the sym- pathetic nervous system. These reflexes produce vasoconstriction in other vascular arcas thereby preventing any appreciable fall in total peripheral vascular resistance. However, M&B 046 PENTAPYRROLIDINICUM IN HYPERTENSION 2050, by producing ganglionic blockade, pre- vents these homeostatic adjustments. There- fore vasodilation in one vascular area will be unopposed by vasoconstriction in other regions, and, if the dilated areca is large, the systemic blood pressure will fall. These considerations provide a rational basis for combining the ganglionic blocking agents with other vaso- dilating drugs. The effects of combining penta- pytrolidinium with other hypotensive agents will be discussed in a succeeding paper.!° SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 1. Comparisons were made between the ef- fects of hexamethonium and pentapyrrolidin- ium (M&B 2050) in hypertensive patients. The following differences were noted: (a) M&B 2050 was approximately five times more potent than hexamethonium. (b) The duration of the hypotensive effect was 40 per cent longer. (c) Less tolerance occurred after M&B 2050. Cross tolerance between this drug and hexameth- onium was very slight. (d) Less constipation was produced by M&B 2050 and there was no interference with emptying of the urinary bladder. The constipation could be controlled with oral neostygmine and/or irritant cathar- ties. (e) On oral administration a more pre- dictable hypotensive response was obtained. 2. The other side effects of ganglionic block- ade were similar to those observed with hexamethonium. 3. Various extrancous factors such as pos- tural changes, ingestion of alcohol or a heavy meal, exercise, hot weather and salt depletion intensified the hypotensive effect of M&B 2050. 4. Unlike hexamethonium it was possible to lower the blood pressure significantly in the majority of patients with oral administration of M&B 2050 without producing prolonged collapse reactions or paralytic ileus. However, critical adjustment of dosage was necessary and side effects were not infrequent, the most disturbing being postural faintness and im- potence. For these reasons M&B 2050 seems to be of greatest value in those cases of severe hypertension which cannot be controlled by simpler measures. SuMARIO EspaNou El nuevo agente bloqueador ganglionar, pentapyrrolidintum o M&B 2050 aparenta tener ciertas ventajas distinctivas sobre el hexamethonium en el tratamiento de Ja hiper- tensién severa. Estas ventajas incluyen una accién mas prolongada, mayor potencia, menor tolerancia, menos interferencia con la movili- dad intestinal y mas importante atin, una respuesta) mas uniforme de dia en dia a la administracién oral. Sinembargo, un ajuste critico de la posologia fué necesario y los efectos no deseables no fueron infrequentes, el mas alarmante siendo el desfallecimiento postural y la impotencia. REFERENCES 1Resraun, P. A., AND Smirk, F. H.: The treatment of hypertension with hexamethonium. New Zealand M. J. 49: 206, 1980. 2Freis, EK. 1D., Finnerty, F. A., Jn., ScHNAPER, H. W., ann Jonnson, R. L.: The treatment of hypertension with hexamethonium. Cireu- lation 5: 20, 1952. 3Lipman, D. D., Patx, D. L., anp Stack, R.: Some bisquarternary salts. J. Chem. Soe. 430: 2305, 1952. 4 Wien, R., anp Mason, D. F. J.: Pharmacology of M&B 2050. Lancet 1: 454, 1953. 5 Maxweut, R. D. H., anp Camppeti, A. J. M.: New sympatholytic agents. Lancet 1: 455, 1953. 6 Smirk, F. H.: Action of a new methonium com- pound in arterial hypertension Pentamethylene 1:5-bis-N-(N-methyl-pyrrolidinium — bitartrate) (M&B 2050 A). Lancet 1: 457, 1953. 7Mitne, G. D., anp Onersxy, 8.: Absorption of hexamethonium. Brit. M. J. 2: 177, 1951. 8Wirn, R.: Personal communication to the authors. 9Keira, N. M., Wagener, H. P., anp Barker, N. W.: Some different types of essential hyper- tension: Their course and progress. Am. J. M. Se. 197: 332, 1939. 0 Preis, 1. D., Livrenrisyp, L. 5., Parrenors, E. A., AND Finnerty, F. A., JR.: In preparation.