A smooth blood pressure control is obtained over 24 h by delapril in mild to moderate essential hypertensives.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the homogeneity of the antihypertensive effect of delapril over 24 h.


METHODS
After 2 weeks of placebo 50 mild to moderate essential hypertensives (age 54+/-5 years) were subjected to 8 weeks of treatment with delapril 30 mg once daily. At the end of each period, blood pressure (BP) was assessed by conventional sphygmomanometry (clinic or CBP) and ambulatory (A) BP monitoring. Twenty-four-hour means, trough-to-peak ratio (T/P) and smoothness index (SI, the ratio between the average of the 24-h BP changes after T and its standard deviation) were calculated for systolic (S) and diastolic (D) BP.


RESULTS
CBP and ABP were significantly reduced by treatment. Pulse pressure (PP, the SBP-DBP difference) was also significantly (p < 0.01) reduced by delapril (5.7+/-6.2 and 3.3+/-3.8 mmHg, CPP and APP). The median T/P was higher (0.51 and 0.62, SBP and DBP) in the 43 responders at trough than in the whole group (0.44 and 0.51). The SI was similarly high in the whole group (1.3+/-0.6 and 1.4+/-0.6, SBP and DBP) and in the responders (1.4+/-0.5 and 1.5+/-0.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Delapril effectively and smoothly reduces BP over 24 h, this effect being evident also on PP, a parameter with a relevant prognostic value.
Omboni
S
S
Clinica Medico, Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza, Università di Milano-Bicocca and Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Italy. somboni@docleader.com
Fogari
R
R
Mancia
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007189:Indans / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007189:Indans; C047759:delapril