PERINDOPRIL AS MONOTHERAPY IN HYPERTENSION - A MULTICENTER COMPARISONOF 2 DOSING REGIMENS

Perindopril erbumine, a new long-acting, non-sulfhydryl-containing ang iotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, was evaluated in 289 patients wi th hypertension in a 16-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-ra nging study. After 4 weeks of single-blind placebo treatment, patients with supine diastolic arterial pressures from 95 to 114 mm Hg were ra ndomized to receive placebo, 4 mg perindopril once daily, or 2 mg peri ndopril twice daily. The daily dose of perindopril was increased by 4 mg every 4 weeks to a maximum of 16 mg per day. Mean decreases in syst olic and diastolic arterial pressure were greater with perindopril tha n with placebo (p < 0.05). The dose-response curve flattened after 8 m g per day, and there was no difference in arterial pressure reduction or in the percentage of responders between once- and twice-daily admin istration of perindopril. Adverse reactions with perindopril were gene rally mild and, with the exception of cough, were similar with placebo . The findings of this study indicate that perindopril is effective, w ell tolerated, and suitable for once-daily administration for the trea tment of hypertension.