Comparison of the effects on blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy of lacidipine and hydrochlorothiazide in hypertensive patients.

We evaluated the effects of lacidipine and hydrochlorothiazide on blood pressure and left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients of mild-to-moderate degree. Both antihypertensive agents significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure without relevant symptoms and signs of reflex activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Posterior wall and interventricular septal thickness and the left ventricular mass were significantly decreased by lacidipine and hydrochlorothiazide after 3 and 6 months of treatment without clinical symptoms of reduced cardiac function.