EVALUATION OF THE COUGH PROFILE OF FOSINOPRIL IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS WITH ACE INHIBITOR-ASSOCIATED COUGH - A PILOT-STUDY

To evaluate the cough profile of fosinopril in treated hypertensive pa tients with active cough associated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors other than fosinopril, a 7-week, prospective, open-l abel study was undertaken. This consisted of a 1-week treatment with t he previous ACE inhibitor, during which ACE inhibitor-associated cough was confirmed, followed by a switch to fosinopril, 10 to 20 mg once d aily, for 6 weeks. The cough profiles of 24 men or women with mild to moderate essential hypertension controlled by an ACE inhibitor other t han fosinopril, and with active, nonproductive ACE inhibitor-associate d cough, were closely monitored. Significant (P < 0.001, paired t test ) decreases in cough frequency, severity, and index, and significant ( P < 0.03, paired t test) changes in the characteristics of the cough w ere observed when patients with ACE inhibitor-associated cough were sw itched over to fosinopril for 6 weeks. This pilot study has demonstrat ed a significant improvement in the cough symptom profile of patients who had been actively coughing with other ACE inhibitor therapy when s witched to fosinopril, and raises the question as to whether the produ ction of cough may vary among ACE inhibitors.