EFFECT OF TEMOCAPRIL ON HEMODYNAMIC AND HUMORAL RESPONSES TO EXERCISEIN PATIENTS WITH MILD ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

1. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of temocapril on haemodynamic and humoral responses to exercise in nine patients with m ild essential hypertension (WHO stages I and II) 2. After a 4-week pla cebo period, temocapril was administered at a dose of 1.0 mg once dail y for 2-4 weeks. Graded submaximal bicycle ergometer exercise was perf ormed before and after temocapril treatment, and the changes in arteri al blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output (CO), and systemic vascu lar resistance (SVR) were evaluated. In addition, the plasma norepinep hrine (NE) level was determined both at rest and peak exercise before and after temocapril treatment. 3. Both the systolic and diastolic blo od pressure were reduced at rest and during exercise by temocapril tre atment. No significant change in the resting heart rate and CO was obs erved, and the exercise-induced increase of these parameters was also not affected by temocapril. In contrast, the resting SVR was significa ntly decreased by temocapril, although the exercise SVR was similar du ring both temocapril and placebo treatment. 4. Although there was no s ignificant change in the plasma NE level with temocapril treatment, th e exercise-induced increase of plasma NE was significantly suppressed by temocapril. 5. These results indicate that temocapril reduces the b lood pressure without causing any significant changes in the heart rat e and CO at rest, and that it does not produce any changes in the haem odynamic response to exercise.