EFFECTS OF PERINDOPRIL TREATMENT ON PLASMA AND URINE OF KALLIKREIN ACTIVITY AND THE STABLE METABOLITE OF PROSTAGLANDIN E(2) IN PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

Eleven male patients with essential hypertension were included in the study. They followed an unrestricted diet and received a single oral d aily doe of 4 mg perindopril (ACE inhibitor) for 6 weeks. Plasma renin activity increased significantly and plasma aldosterone decreased sig nificantly after perindopril treatment, suggesting than effective bloc kade of angiotensin II formation was accomplished. Both systolic and d iastolic blood pressure decreased. Urinary bicycloprostaglandin E(2) ( an inactive metabolite of prostaglandin E(2)) increased significantly, while plasma and urinary kallikrein activity decreased significantly ater perindopril treatment. The results obtained demonstrated signific ant changes in prostaglandin E(2) and kallikrein activity during ACE i nhibition. The contributive role of these humoral factors in the hypot ensive effect of perindopril are discussed.