ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AND ADRENOCORTICAL EFFEC T OF LONG-TERM BENAZEPRIL TREATMENT OF ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

Changes in arterial hypertension, heart rate adrenocortical hormones ( 11-OCS, aldosteron, progestins) in the blood and 24-h urine were follo wed tip in the course of 24-week use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril (10-20 mg once a day) in 24 patients with mild an d moderate essential hypertension (EH) included in a placebo-controlle d randomized study. A 2 and 24-week antihypertensive response was achi eved in 75 and 71% of patients, respectively. 24-h urinary excretion o f corticosteroids before the treatment was increased. After the treatm ent benazepril reduced excretion of 11-OCS by 42%, but not of aldoster on the levels of which decreased only within the first 2 weeks of trea tment. The above trends in changes of gluco- and mineralocorticoid act ivity should be taken into consideration in long-term treatment of EH with inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme.