Bronchial responses to enalapril in asthmatic, hypertensive patients.

The subjects, six asthmatic patients with mild essential hypertension, were aged 48 to 63 years and each was being treated with theophylline. Five patients received 10 mg of enalapril daily for two weeks and one received 5 mg for four weeks. Their bronchial responses to inhaled methacholine were measured with a modification of the 3-Hz oscillation method before and after the enalapril treatment. The patients' mean blood pressures decreased significantly from 180.7/100.3 to 152.0/93.3 mmHg after treatment. No treatment-associated changes in the frequency of coughing, the number of asthmatic attacks, or use of antiasthmatic drugs were noted. The results of the bronchial provocation tests revealed no changes in bronchial sensitivity or reactivity during treatment. Serum substance P levels were 61.3 pg/ml before treatment and 60.2 pg/ml after treatment. It is concluded that therapeutic doses of enalapril did not exacerbate asthmatic attacks or increase bronchial hypersensitivity in these asthmatic, hypertensive patients.