LISINOPRIL AND HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE AMILORIDE - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY INTHE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH MILD-TO-MODERATE HYPERTENSION

This Canadian multicenter study involving 14 investigators and 185 pat ients compared the efficacy and safety of lisinopril with hydrochlorot hiazide (HCTZ)/amiloride in the treatment of mild-to-moderate essentia l hypertension, This double-blind, controlled, randomized, parallel-de sign study lasted 12 weeks; it was preceded by a placebo period of 2 t o 4 weeks to establish a baseline for each patient. The titration peri od was followed by a maintenance period of 4 to 8 weeks. Patients with a supine diastolic blood pressure (DBP) greater than or equal to 95 a nd less than or equal to 114 mm Hg were eligible for entry into the st udy. The primary goals for blood pressure control were a supine DBP <9 0 mm Hg and a decrease in supine DBP of >10 mm Hg from baseline. Resul ts of this study demonstrate that (1) lisinopril and HCTZ/amiloride ef fectively reduce systolic blood pressure (SEP) and DBP in both the sup ine and standing positions; (2) the mean reductions of SEP and DBP are greater with lisinopril than with HCTZ/amiloride; (3) supine DBP <90 mm Hg is achieved more often with lisinopril; (4) reduction of supine DBP of >10 mm Hg is achieved more often with lisinopril; (5) both lisi nopril and HCTZ/amiloride are well tolerated; and (6) the incidence of adverse laboratory results is minimal with both treatments but occurs less frequently with lisinopril.