EFFECTS OF BISOPROLOL AND RAMIPRIL ON SHO RT-TERM VARIABILITY OF SYSTOLIC BLOOD-PRESSURE TO MENTAL STRESS IN HYPERTENSIVES - SPECTRAL-ANALYSIS

The mid frequency component (MFC = 66-128 mHz) of blood pressure is an index of sympathetic vascular control. To investigate the effect of b isoprolol (B) and ramipril (R) treatment (TT) on the short-term variab ility of systolic blood pressure (SEP) diastolic blood pressure (DPB) and heart rate (HR) reactivity during mental stress, we studied 54 mil d essential untreated hypertensive patients (24 men, 45 +/- 9.6 years, BP > 160/90 mmHg after a 15-days placebo run-in period) who were rand omly assigned to double blind treatment (B : 10 mg/day : n = 28 and R : 5 mg/day : n = 26). A Stroop Word Color Conflict Test (SWCCT) was pe rformed before and after 2 months of treatment. Hemodynamic parameters (BP and KR) were measured by a non invasive device (Finapres 2300E, O hmeda-Maurepas) and underwent spectral analysis (SEP : mmHg.Hz(-1/2), HR: beats/min.Hz(-1/2), Anapres 1.2, Notocord-Orgametrie Systems, Igny -Lille) at rest and during SWCCT. The sympathetic vascular activity wa s assessed by calculating the area of the mid-frequency component (MFC = 66-128 Hz). [GRAPHICS] Conclusion : The absolute variations in symp athetic activity during SWCCT as demonstrated by analysis of MFC of SE P and HR is not affected by chronic ramipril treatment, whereas bisopr olol attenuates sympathetic reactivity during SWCCT.