HIGH-ALTITUDE PULMONARY-HYPERTENSION - EFFECTS OF CAPTOPRIL ON PULMONARY AND SYSTEMIC ARTERIAL PRESSURES

The purpose of investigation was the assessment of the effect of capto pril on both systemic (P-a) and pulmonary arterial pressures (P-PA) in patients with high-altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH). Seventeen patients (mean age 44 +/- 6.8 years) with HAPH and mild-to-moderate sy stemic arterial hypertension were included in the study, All the patie nts underwent right heart catheterization with measurements of systoli c P-PA (P-PA,P-syst), mean P-PA (<(P)over bar (PA)>) and diastolic P-P A (P-PA,P-diast). After a 4 week placebo phase, patients with P-PA,P-s yst > 25 mm Hg, <(P)over bar (PA)> > 15 mm Hg and systemic diastolic b lood pressure (P-a,P-diast) > 100 mm Hg received captopril (50 - 75 mg at 08.00) for a period of 12 weeks, The statistical evaluation of the results were made using the Student's t-test, It was found that capto pril significantly decreases P-PA and P-a.