FOSINOPRIL REDUCES ADP-INDUCED PLATELET-AGGREGATION IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Platelets are intimately involved in atherosclerosis, and hypertension is a known risk factor for coronary artery disease. The angiotensin-c onverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors were demonstrated to reduce hyperten sion and attenuate atherosclerosis. Because increased platelet aggrega tion was shown in hypertensive patients, the effect of a new ACE inhib itor, fosinopril, on platelet aggregation was studied. Fosinopril ther apy (10 mg/day for 4 weeks) in 18 male hypertensive patients showed gr eater than or equal to 31% reduction in ADP-induced platelet aggregati on. In vitro studies showed that fosinopril had similar inhibitory eff ect on ADP-induced platelet aggregation. No inhibitory effect could be detected with collagen as the aggregating agent. Finally, inhibition of platelet aggregation by fosinopril was less effective in platelets derived from hypertensive patients as compared with platelets derived from normal subjects. We conclude that fosinopril possesses a signific ant inhibitory activity on ADP-induced platelet aggregation both in vi tro and in vivo.