Long-term Experience with Captopril in Severe Hypertension

1 The long-term effect of the converting-enzyme inhibitor captopril was investigated in 76 patients with various forms of severe hypertension, most cases being resistant to a standardised triple therapy (100 mg hydrochlorothiazide or 80-500 mg frusemide; 320 mg propranolol; and 200 mg hydralazine). 2 In each of the three groups examined (essential, renovascular, and renal parenchymatous hypertension) captopril led to a prompt and sustained reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Up to an observation time of 2 1/2 years patients with renovascular hypertension showed a more pronounced fall in mean diastolic blood pressures than those with essential hypertension. About 90% of all patients required a diuretic and a substantial percentage of patients needed propranolol as a third drug. 3 The most frequent side effects were skin manifestations, taste disturbances, dizziness, and non-productive cough. Serious adverse effects were rare and included one case of leucopenia and one of the nephrotic syndrome, both of them reversed after withdrawal of captopril. Further analysis showed that side effects occurred mainly in patients with impaired kidney function receiving relatively high dosages of captopril (greater than 200 mg/day). 4 Our results show that captopril is a very potent blood-pressure-lowering agent in severe hypertension, especially in cases with renovascular hypertension.