[Hypotensive effectiveness of therapy combined enalapril and nitrendipine and influence on the quality of life].
It has been proved that effectiveness of monotherapy in mild hypertension is about 50%; in the other half of patients the dose of previously used drug should be increased or combined therapy should be recommended. THE AIM OF THE STUDY was to compare treatment with angiotensin convertase enzyme inhibitor--ACE-I (enalapril 10 mg bid--group 1) to therapy with ACE-I combined with calcium antagonist (enalapril 5 mg bid + nitrendipine 20 mg qd--group 2).


METHODS
In a prospective, open, randomised crossover study we assessed 44 hypertensive subjects (17 women, 27 men), aged 35-69 years (mean age 48.6 years) with poorly controlled hypertension treated with enalapril 5 mg twice daily. Mean initial systolic blood pressure was 150.8 < or = 9.9 mmHg, diastolic 94.7 +/- 5.3 mmHg respectively. The influence of the treatment regimen on the quality of life (QoL) was estimated by a questionnaire.


RESULTS
The effectiveness of both used procedures did not differ statistically--in both groups mean blood pressure reduction was similar (14/8 mmHg in 4 weeks), also percentage of patients with well controlled hypertension (about 50%) did not differ significantly. In the group with changes regimen from monotherapy to combined therapy the improvement of systolic blood pressure was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05); in the case of combined therapy replaced with monotherapy such an improvement was not observed. In the subgroup with the isolated systolic hypertension combined therapy was considerably more effective. The improvement of QoL was noted in both groups, mainly in the initial phase of the study.


CONCLUSIONS
In mild hypertension ACE-I and calcium antagonist combination is effective in blood pressure reduction and in the improvement of the quality of life. Nitrendipine in a dose 20 mg in an once daily regimen is a potent and safe hypotensive agent, particularly in isolated systolic hypertension.
Klinika Chorób Wewnetrznych, Zaburzeń Metabolicznych i Nadciśnienia Tetniczego Akademii Medycznej w Poznaniu.
Wiesław
W
Bryl
Maciej
M
Cymerys
Magdalena
M
Kujawska-Luczak
Danuta
D
Pupek-Musialik
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004656:Enalapril; D009568:Nitrendipine