EFFECTS OF AMLODIPINE VS ENALAPRIL ON MICROALBUMINURIA IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS WITH TYPE-II DIABETES

The effects of once-daily amlodipine 10 mg or enalapril 20 mg on urina ry albumin excretion (UAE) were evaluated over 12 months, in a randomi sed trial of 50 hypertensive patients with type II (non-insulin-depend ent) diabetes mellitus and microalbuminuria. Both drugs significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure without affecting heart rate or glucose homeostasis. UAE was significantly reduced after 3 mon ths of treatment with enalapril and 6 months of therapy with amlodipin e. The percentage reduction in UAE significantly correlated with the d ecrement in systolic blood pressure and duration of hypertension in bo th treatment groups. Creatinine clearance was unaffected by enalapril, but was significantly increased by amlodipine. Long term treatment wi th either amlodipine or enalapril was therefore effective in reducing UAE in hypertensive patients with type II diabetes and microalbuminuri a.