CLINICAL EFFECT OF LISINOPRIL IN PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

Lisinopril, a long - acting angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, is effective inthe treatment of essential hypertension. The antihypertensive effects and safety profiles of lisinopril (10 -40 mg) and enalapril (10-40 mg) once daily were compared in a randomized, double-blind parallel group trial in 107 patients with mild - to - moderate essential hypertension. After 8 weeks of therapy, lisinopril reduced mean sitting systolic blood pressure (SBP) from 156.2 mmHg at baseline to 132.4 mmHg. Sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was reduced from 103. 2 mmHg at baseline to 86.9 mmHg. Enalapril reduced mean SBP from 155. 3 to 135. 0 mmHg and mean DBF from 102. 4 to 88. 3 mmHg. Comparison of the two groups revealed significant difference in effect (P0. 05) . There was also significant difference in the percentage of responders between lisinopril and enalapril group (95% vs 85.1%) . There was 63.1% responders to the dosed 10 -20 mg once daily in lisinopril group, and 52. 2% in enalapril group. The antihypertensive effect of lisinopril could persist for 20 to 24 hours while that of enalapril for only 12 to 14 hours.The commonest adverse effects in the two groups were headache, dizziness, asthenia and cough. No patient withdrew from the treatment because of adverse reactions. No abnormal laboratory results were recorded in either group.In conclusion the clinical effect was significantly better in the lisinopril group compared with that of the enalapril group in controlling essential hypertension. Compared with the placebo group lisinopril once daily could satisfatorily reduce ambulatory blood pressure for 20 to 24 hours.Lisinopril was well tolerated by Chinese patients with mild - to - moderate hypertension as shown in this study.