THE INFLUENCE OF CHRONIC TREATMENT WITH BETA-BLOCKADE AND ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME-INHIBITION ON THE PERIPHERAL-BLOOD FLOW IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT CONCOMITANT INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION -A COMPARATIVE CROSS-OVER TRIAL

In a comparative cross-over trial we examined the influence of the bet ablocker bisoprolol and the ACE-inhibitor lisinopril on the peripheral blood flow of 2 groups of hypertensive patients with and without conc omitant intermittent claudication. In 11 patients with hypertension wi thout peripheral arterial obstructive disease and 11 patients with hyp ertension and claudication we assessed the blood pressure, leg blood f low, vascular resistance, walking distance, transcutaneous oxygen cons umption and Laser-Doppler flow after treatment of one month with 10 mg bisoprolol once daily or 20 mg lisinopril once daily. The walking dis tance of patients with claudication improved in all patients while par ticipating in an exercise program. For both treatment groups this impr ovement was significant (p < 0.05) compared to baseline, from 264 m at baseline to 313 m with bisoprolol and to 400 m with lisinopril. The d ifference was not significant between the both drugs. In patients with out peripheral vascular obstructive disease we found a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in blood flow for both drugs. The peripheral blood f low parameters of 38 legs showed no statistical significant effect of bisoprolol nor lisinopril on the local vascular resistance at rest, af ter occlusion or after exercise.