EFFECT OF RAMIPRIL ON BLOOD-FLOW IN INTER NAL CAROTID ARTERIES IN PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

The aim of the study was evaluation of action of ramipril on carotid b lood flow in essential hypertension. Ejection fraction, ratio of peak velocities during early ventricular filling and after left atrial syst ole (E/F), total (sum) volume blood flow in right and left internal ca rotid arteries were measured by doppler ultrasonography in 24 patients (11 men and 13 women) aged 37 - 60 years (mean 47,5+/-5,6 years) with stage II essential hypertension before and after 12 weeks of treatmen t with ramipril (2,5 or 5 mg/day). Average sum volume blood flow at ba seline was higher than that in normotensives according to literature d ata and was found to decrease after treatment with ramipril (from 25,1 +/-6,3 to 22,9+/-5,5 ml/sec, p<0,05). Dynamics of blood flow in intern al carotid arteries under influence of therapy in individual patients depended on its baseline magnitude. High pre-treatment blood flow (exc eeding 25 ml/sec) decreased, while low blood flow (below 20,5 ml/sec) rose. Intermediate values (20,5 - 25 ml/sec) remained unchanged. There was no correlation between carotid artery blood flow dynamics and cha nges of blood pressure, cardiac output or diastolic function. Normalis ation of carotid artery blood flow by ramipril could be indicative of its favourable action on cerebral hemodynamics and of potential effica cy of the drug for prevention of cerebro-vascular complications of ess ential hypertension.