[Efficacy and tolerability of captopril-hydrochlorothiazide vs amiloride-hydrochlorothiazide combination in mild to moderate arterial hypertension].

Forty patients, mean age 56.87 yrs. with light or moderate essential arterial hypertension were randomized double-blind into two subgroups of 20 subjects each, and submitted to daily combined drug treatment with either captopril 50 mg + hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg (group A) or amiloride 5 mg + hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg (group B). Patients were monitored after the washout period and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment approximately 20-24 after the last dose. The following parameters were studied: blood pressure, heart rate, body weight, untoward side effects. Standard laboratory tests were performed in all patients after washout and at the end of the 8-week treatment period. Both combinations significantly reduced pressure values but the captopril-hydrochlorothiazide combination reduced blood pressure more readily and proved more effective in reducing diastolic values. There were no dropouts due to subjective side effects which were of little relevance and were equally distributed among the two groups. As for laboratory data, patients taking the captopril-hydrochlorothiazide combination had a statistically significant increase in blood glucose. Neither combination induced significant changes in the other parameters, especially as far as potassemia was concerned.