INCREASED ARTERIAL DISTENSIBILITY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL HYPERTENSIVE WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY AFTER ACUTE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ACE-INHIBITOR MOEXIPRIL

Menopause and essential hypertension are associated with a decreased c ompliance and distensibility of the arteries. ACE inhibitors have been shown to improve arterial distensibility. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), especially estrogens, could have a positive influence through their atheroprotective, vasodilative, and blood pressure-lowering effe ct. The vascular interactions of HBT and ACE inhibitors, like moexipri l hydrochloride, have not been investigated so far. This trial was int ended to assess the effect of combined sequential HRT for 25 days on a cute changes in arterial distensibility after a single oral dose of 15 mg moexipril hydrochloride in postmenopausal women with borderline to mild essential hypertension. This study had a monocentric, randomized , parallel-group design, and was open for moexipril, and double-blind, and placebo-controlled for HRT. Assessment of arterial distensibility was by automatic noninvasive measurement of the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). The PWV and the pulse pressure decreased signifi cantly after a single oral dose of 15 mg moexipril. An influence of HR T on the changes in the PWV and pulse pressure could not be seen. The plasma concentrations of renin increased and of aldosterone decreased after moexipril administration. Arterial function improves after acute administration of 15 mg moexipril in postmenopausal women with mild t o moderate essential hypertension. The changes in PWV and pulse pressu re are of similar magnitude in women with and without HRT.