Lisinopril in elderly patients with hypertension. Long term effects on renal and metabolic function.

The efficacy and tolerability of lisinopril administered once daily were evaluated in a 12-week open study of 60 elderly patients aged between 65 and 85 years (mean 75 years) with essential hypertension. Mean sitting blood pressure was reduced from 190/106 +/- 6.3/1.3mm Hg (mean +/- SEM) at entry to 162/89 +/- 5.5/0.9 mm Hg after 12 weeks of treatment (p less than 0.001). There was no significant alteration in heart rate, and no occurrence of postural hypotension. The median daily dose of lisinopril was 20mg (range 5 to 40 mg) and only 4 patients required the addition of a diuretic. Mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at entry was 61.6 +/- 3.4 ml/min and was unchanged after 12 weeks of therapy. 25 patients continued to receive treatment for 1 year, and 20 of these completed 2 years of treatment. Control of blood pressure was maintained, and heart rate, biochemical parameters and GFR remained unaltered throughout the study. Renal function was preserved and renal blood flow, measured in a group of 14 patients, was significantly increased (p less than 0.025) at the end of the first year after treatment with lisinopril. Thus, in the elderly, lisinopril was well tolerated and highly effective in lowering blood pressure, and renal function was maintained.