[Effects of treatment with ACE and serotonin inhibitors on arterial blood pressure at rest and cycloergometric exercise and on systolic time intervals: comparison of enalapril and ketanserin].

Exercise tolerance test gives important diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic information in hypertensive patients. One hundred essential hypertensive patients were treated with enalapril: 10 mg/day, ketanserin: 40 mg/day and associated enalapril: 5mg/day + ketanserin: 20 mg/day for three different periods of three months for each one, with a wash-out period of 15 days after each therapeutic cycle. We used ACE and ketanserin because they have a hypotensive effect without developing tolerance, metabolic effects, rebound events in case of sudden interruption. These pharmacologic agents, which are active by themselves, can also be used in association with other hypotensive agents. Two exercise tolerance tests were carried out on each patient before and after each therapeutic period. Clinostatic systolic time intervals were assessed before and after treatment. Enalapril and ketanserin reduced systolic and diastolic pressure in basal condition and after exercise tolerance test, without any interference on heart rate. The association of the two hypotensive agents resulted more active, even with a halved dose. The improving of the double product and the systolic time intervals confirm the efficacy of these treatments. Side effects were mild.