BLOOD LIPID CHANGES IN HYPERTENSIVE, DYSLIPIDEMIC PATIENTS UNDER LONG-TERM QUINAPRIL TREATMENT

Objective. The present study aimed at verifying Quinapril effects on b oth pressure and lipid profile in 15 patients (5 M, 10 F), aged 45 to 80 years (63 +/- 9), complaining for mild to moderate hypertension and dyslipidemia (total cholesterol >200 mg/dl and triglycerides > 200 mg /dl). No relevant associated disease was present, including diabetes m ellitus not any lipid lowering drugs were given. Method. After a wash- out period of one weck, all patients, who had been hypertensive for 2 to 120 months (33 +/- 11), were given Quinapril 20 mg orally once a da y for 6 months and kept on a low lipid diet from before treatment to t he end of the study. Lipid profile we assessed at three-month interval s. Results. Blood pressure, monitored at two-week intervals, significa ntly decreased on the 1st month (p<0.001), and kept lower thereafter. Mean total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein chol esterol levels, after 6 months of therapy, were reduced by 44 mg/dl (p <0.001), 29 mg/dl (p<0.001) and 39 mg/dl (p<0.002) respectively. Concl usions. Our results seen indicate that Quinapril antihypertensive effe cts are accompanied by a significant improvement of the lipid profile.