A MULTICENTER STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF LISINOPRILIN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC RENAL-INSUFFICIENCY

Seventy-nine patients with sitting DBP greater than or equal to 95 and less than or equal to 120 mmHg and Cl(cr)greater than or equal to 10 and less than or equal to 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), were recruited from gen eral practice in ten different centers. A placebo washout period of tw o weeks was followed by 12 weeks monotherapy with lisinopril. The init ial dose (5-10 mg) was doubled on a biweekly basis to a max of 40 mg i f DBP was greater than or equal to 95 mmHg, then additional diuretic t herapy was allowed. At week 12 DBP was less than or equal to 90 mmHg i n 80% of patients. No patient was withdrawan because of severe clinica l or laboratory adverse events, though serum potassium (S-k) significa ntly increased. As mean S-cr and C-cr did not change and acute renal d eterioration never occurred. We conclude that lisinopril was well tole rated, significantly lowering BP in the majority of patients with chro nic renal insufficiency. The possibility of severe hyperkalemia calls for careful monitoring of S-k.