NAIL FOLD CAPILLAROSCOPY AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN MILD-TO-MODERATE HYPERTENSION TREATED WITH CILAZAPRIL PLUS HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE - FIRST RESULTS

Essential hypertension is characterized by parallel and potentially re versible vascular and cardiac adaptations. In our study, capillaroscop y, echocardiography, and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure profiles were performed in 17 patients (aged 33-63 years; mean, 52 years) with mild- to-moderate hypertension. We measured morphological and hemodynamic pa rameters of capillary microcirculation as well as morphological echoca rdiographic parameters at baseline and after 6 weeks' treatment with 5 mg of cilazapril plus 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide. Digital capilla ry blood flow measurements were assessed by nail fold video capillaros copy. After 6 tide, mean diastolic 24-h ambulatory blood pressure decr eased from 98 +/- 6 to 85 +/- 7 mm Hg. Capillary blood cell velocity w as 0.6 +/- 0.4 mm/s at baseline and increased to 0.6 +/- 0.4 mm/s. The re were no significant changes in morphological capillaroscopic and ec hocardiographic parameters. In conclusion, we observed a trend toward higher capillary blood cell velocity as early as after 6 weeks of trea tment with cilazapril plus hydrochlorothiazide in mild-to-moderate hyp ertension.