| Abstract: | AIM: To investigate 24-h evenness of an antihypertensive effect of angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan vs captopril by four parameters of arterial pressure (AP) monitoring. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An open, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial was made in 22 patients with mild/moderate arterial hypertension (AH). Four parameters of AP monitoring were assessed: TPR, SI, rate of AP morning rise, index of AP morning rise. RESULTS: In losartan treatment TPR for systolic and diastolic AP were 61.5 and 61.3%, respectively, IS made up 0.74 +/- 0.13 and 0.64 +/- 0.09, respectively. For captopril these values reached 21.2 and 26.9%, 0.51 +/- 0.14 and 0.47 +/- 0.10, respectively. Differences by SI between the two drugs were 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 produced a regular antihypertensive effect throughout 24 hours. Captopril (twice a day in a dose 50 mg) effect was not regular enough. This means that some patients need a three-times-a day regimen of captopril. Of the four parameters, SI is most informative for evaluation of antihypertensive effect evenness. |
