COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFECTS OF RAMIPRIL AND CAPTOPRIL USING 24-HOUR AMBULATORY BLOOD-PRESSURE MEASUREMENT

The following study was performed to compare the efficiency of 2.5 mg/ d ramipril and 50 mg/d captopril. Sixty patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension were included in a multicenter, single-blind, and random ized study. The patients were treated with either 2.5 mg ramipril or 5 0 mg captopril once daily at 8 a.m. Patients could be included when AB PM demonstrated a mean 24-hour diastolic blood pressure between 80 - 1 00 mmHg. ABPM was performed before and after a treatment-period of 6 w eeks. The mean initial 24-hour blood pressure values were comparable i n both groups (ramipril 139.1/87.8 mmHg, captopril 143.0/88.3 mmHg). A fter 6 weeks of treatment a comparable significant decrease was found in both groups. The average 24-hour blood pressure decrease was systol ic 12, diastolic 8 mmHg for ramipril, and systolic 9, diastolic 7 mmHg for captopril. Additionally, there was no difference in side effects, laboratory results, and compliance tests for ACE in plasma between th e treatment groups. Conclusions: Ramipril 2.5 mg/d and captopril 50 mg /d exhibit a comparable antihypertensive effect on 24-hour blood press ure after a 6-week treatment period.