EFFECTS OF PERINDOPRIL ON HYPERTENSION AND STROKE PREVENTION IN EXPERIMENTAL-ANIMALS

BACKGROUND: Among the antihypertensive agents available for the treatm ent of hypertension, only angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibito rs have been shown to modify cardiovascular changes in structure and f unction. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of perindopril treatment on hy pertension and stroke prevention in two genetic models of hypertensive rats. DESIGN: Adult (15 weeks old) spontaneously hypertensive rats (S HR) were treated with perindopril to determine the dose- and duration- dependent effects of treatment on systolic blood pressure, and the eff ect of withdrawal of this treatment on blood pressure and survival. In stroke-prone SHR, treatment was initiated in young animals (six weeks ), and dose- and duration-dependent effects of perindopril treatment o n stroke prevention were assessed. RESULTS: In adult SHR, perindopril caused a dose-dependent lowering of blood pressure. Blood pressure was controlled for a 24 h period with a single daily dose. The magnitude of rebound hypertension after withdrawal of treatment was negatively c orrelated with duration of treatment. After 12 weeks of treatment, the blood pressure of treated SHR remained normotensive without further t reatment, and the life span of treated SHR was also extended. Treatmen t of young, stroke-prone SHR with perindopril prevented stroke in thes e animals during the treatment period. After withdrawal of treatment s urvival of the rats was increased in animals given a longer treatment period (24 weeks versus eight or 12 weeks). CONCLUSION: Treatment with the ACE inhibitor perindopril is effective in the prevention of hyper tension and stroke in experimental animals.