INFLUENCE OF THE RENIN PROFILE ON THE BLOOD-PRESSURE RESPONSE TO DIFFERENT DOSES OF HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE PLUS EITHER QUINAPRIL OR CAPTOPRIL

The antihypertensive efficacy and safety of quinapril 20mg plus hydroc hlorothiazide 6.25mg were compared over 8 weeks with captopril 50mg pl us hydrochlorothiazide 15mg in 52 patients with mild to moderate essen tial hypertension (27 men and 25 women age 49.7 +/- 8.4 years). The st udy also evaluated the relationship between antihypertensive efficacy and plasma renin activity/blood pressure sensitivity to changes in die tary sodium intake. The combination of quinapril or captopril with hyd rochlorothiazide showed similar antihypertensive effects and tolerabil ity. Neither blood pressure salt sensitivity nor renin profile were pr edictive of blood pressure response to either therapy. These results s uggest that the antihypertensive efficacy of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor when administered in fixed ratio with a thiazide diu retic is independent of salt sensitivity in hypertension.