Efficacy of ramipril in therapy-resistant hypertension.
In an open, 48-week study the antihypertensive efficacy of ramipril when administered as add-on therapy to existing triple antihypertensive treatment (diuretics, beta-blockers, vasodilators) was investigated in 56 patients (24 females, 32 males) with therapy-resistant hypertension. The main variable (sitting diastolic blood pressure) decreased from 112 mmHg at baseline to 91 mmHg at week 8 (p < 0.01) and remained stable thereafter until the end of the trial. The systolic blood pressure in the sitting position decreased from 175 mmHg at baseline to 146 mmHg at week 8 (p < 0.01) and also remained stable thereafter until the end of the trial. Ramipril doses between week 8 and the end of the trial were not changed in 82% of patients. 45% of patients were treated with 5 mg ramipril/day, 33% with 10 mg/day and 22% with 20 mg/day at the end of the study. Addition of ramipril allowed a reduction in the doses of concurrrent therapy, especially in relation to beta-blockers (p < 0.02) and vasodilators (p < 0.01). The safety was good--no serious adverse events were observed. Ramipril is, therefore, a suitable drug for the patients with therapy-resistant hypertension allowing reduction of the doses of concomitant medication.
Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807-0800, USA.
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Lorenz
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Beran
D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017257:Ramipril / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D017257:Ramipril