EVALUATION OF CILAZAPRIL VERSUS CAPTOPRIL IN PATIENTS WITH MILD-TO-MODERATE ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

Obiective: Cilazapril, a long-acting angiotensin converting enzyme (AC E) inhibitor, was evaluated against captopril for safety and efficacy in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension. Methods: One hundred thirty-two patients were randomly assigned to receive cila zapril, 2.5 mg once daily; 62 patients were randomly assigned to recei ve captopril, 25 mg twice daily. If necessary, dosage was increased to 5.0 mg cilazapril, once daily or 50 mg captopril, twice daily. Adjunc tive hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg once daily) was later added to this higher dosage, if required. Results: After eight weeks of monotherapy, sitting diastolic blood pressure (SDBP) had decreased 7.5 mm Hg from baseline for cilazapril-treated patients, versus 5.6 mm Hg for captopr il-treated patients. These decreases were 7.6 mm Hg and 6.8 mm Hg for cilazapril and captopril, respectively, at Week 12. At Week 8, 36.5% o f patients receiving cilazapril had achieved a SDBP of 90 mm Hg or les s, versus 26.0% of captopril-treated patients. The overall responder r ate at Week 8 was 47.1% for cilazapril and 34.0% for captopril. None o f these differences between the two treatment groups were statisticall y significant. Both drugs alone or in combination with hydrochlorothia zide were well tolerated during the ii-week treatment period. Conclusi on: The results of this study indicate that cilazapril, alone or with adjunctive hydrochlorothiazide, is effective and well tolerated as tre atment for mild to moderate hypertension.