title: Low-dose captopril: its use in mild to moderate hypertension unresponsive to diuretic treatment.
abstract: The effect of low doses (25 mg three times a day) of captopril was evaluated in 16 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension, previously uncontrolled by hydrochlorothiazide. After a no-treatment period, mean eight-hour seated diastolic blood pressure (SDBP, mm Hg) was 103 +/- 5 on placebo, 95 +/- 8 after a single dose of captopril, 96 +/- 4 after two weeks of captopril alone, and 90 +/- 6 after its combination with hydrochlorothiazide. Though nine patients had at least a 10% fall in SDBP after the initial dose of captopril, only three had a comparable fall after two weeks; after captopril and hydrochlorothiazide, however, 12 patients had such a response. Captopril decreased mean angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and plasma aldosterone, though to a lesser extent with continued therapy. Because its side effects appear dose related, low doses of captopril combined with a diuretic are effective and may be better tolerated.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002216:Captopril / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011392:Proline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D000450:Aldosterone; D011392:Proline; D002216:Captopril; D012083:Renin