THE THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF ENALAPRIL MALEATE ADMINISTERED ONCE OR TWICE DAILY IN ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

Twenty-four patients with essential hypertension were investigated to study the therapeutic effect of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, enalapril. There were 11 men (mean age, 51.6 +/- 12.1 years) and 13 women (mean age, 48.0 +/- 5.3 years). Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) before treatment was 179 +/- 21.0 mmHg and mean diastolic blood pressure was 107 +/- 9.8 mmHg. Mean heart rate was 80.3 +/- 14.8 beats/min. Patients were followed up at the outpatient department at monthly intervals for three months to measure blood pressure in the erect position with a mercury sphygmomanometer, using the right arm. Heart rate was measured from LII of the electrocardiogram. Student's t test was used to analyze the data obtained. There was a statistically significant (P < 0.0001) difference in mean SBP and DBP at each monthly reading compared with baseline. Heart rate did not show any significant difference. This study confirmed the therapeutic effect of the ACE inhibitor enalapril administered once or twice daily in essential hypertension.