Distribution of an antihypertensive effect of losartan and captopril as shown by 24-H monitoring of arterial pressure

Aim. To investigate 24-h evenness of an antihypertensive effect of angioten sin II receptor blocker losartan vs captopril by four parameters of arteria l pressure (AP) monitoring. Material and methods. An open, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial was mad e in 22 patients with mild/moderate arterial hypertension (AH). Four parame ters of AP monitoring were assessed: TPR, SI, rate of AP morning rise, inde x of AP morning rise. Results. In losartan treatment TPR for systolic and diastolic AP were 61.5 and 61.3%, respectively, IS made tip 0.74 +/- 0.13 and 0.64 +/- 0.09, respe ctively. For captopril these values reached 21.2 and 26.9%, 0.51 +/- 0,14 a nd 0.47 +/- 0.10, respectively. Differences by SI between the two drugs wer e statistically insignificant. Both drugs did not raise the rate and index of AP morning rise significantly. Conclusion. When administered in a single daily dose 100 mg, losartan produ ced a regular antihypertensive effect throughout 24 hours. Captopril (twice a day in a dose 50 mg) effect was not regular enough. This paeans that som e patients need a three-times-a day regimen of captopril. Of the four param eters, SI is most informative for evaluation of antihypertensive effect eve nness.