First-dose hypotension after angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in chronic heart failure: a comparison of enalapril and perindopril. Slovak Investigator Group

BACKGROUND: First-dose hypotension refers to an observed reduction in blood pressure after the administration of the first dose of ACE inhibitors in patients with congestive heart failure. AIM: To compare the first-dose responses of low-dose enalapril and perindopril in patients with stable symptomatic chronic heart failure. METHODS: Single blind, randomised, multicenter, parallel, prospective study. Patients (N=298) with chronic heart failure due to ischemic heart disease or dilated cardiomyopathy, NYHA II-IV, ejection fraction<40%, age>18 years, naive to ACE inhibitors or ATI-receptor blocker, were randomised to receive a single dose of 2. 5 mg enalapril or 2.0 mg perindopril. Baseline laboratory and clinical examinations were performed before entry into the study. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring started 2 h before the study medication was given, and continued for at least 10 h after the medication. RESULTS: The maximum drop in blood pressure appeared approximately 4 h after dose administration in both groups, and was more pronounced in the enalapril group. Patients in the enalapril group had a significantly higher incidence of asymptomatic hypotension. No symptomatic hypotension requiring a change in medication or a prolongation of hospitalisation was observed. CONCLUSION: A low dose of perindopril is well-tolerated at initiation of ACE inhibitor therapy in patients with chronic heart failure and causes less first-dose hypotension than a low dose of enalapril.