Antihypertensive effect of captopril, a converting enzyme inhibitor, in patients with moderate and severe hypertension

ABSTRACT

An open, non-comparative study, with a converting enzyme inhibitor-captopril was undertaken in 12 patients with moderate and severe essential hypertension (stage I-II WHO). After a 1-7 days placebo period, patients were treated with captopril, 25-50 mg tree times daily, after which hydrochlorothiazide 25-100 mg once daily orally was added and captopril was increased up to a maximal dose of 450 mg daily (divided in the doses). Blood was reduced after the first captopril dose (25 mg) from 191 ñ 5.70/120 ñ 3.09 mmHg to 177 ñ 6.47/113 ñ 2.97 mmHg. Spine blood pressure was decreased after captopril + hydrochlorothiazide therapy from 189 ñ 5.94/118 ñ 2.72 mmHg (Mean ñ SEM) to 139 ñ 5.81/93 + 3.85 mmHg (P < 0.01). Captopril + hydrochlorothiazide therapy was well tolerated. We conclude that captopril combined with hydrochlorothiazide is very effective in the treatment of moderate and severe essential hypertension