Effects of enalapril on the cardiovascular response to treadmill exercise in patients with mild to moderate systemic hypertension.

The effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril on exercise-induced changes in blood pressure and heart rate were evaluated in 15 patients in the early stages of systemic hypertension. Multistage treadmill exercise was performed before and after eight weeks of enalapril administration, and the results of the two trials were compared. In patients at rest, enalapril decreased systolic blood pressure from 172 +/- 18 to 147 +/- 14 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure from 99 +/- 9 to 88 +/- 8 mmHg (both P less than 0.001). In patients at peak exercise, enalapril decreased systolic blood pressure from 216 +/- 13 to 195 +/- 18 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure from 106 +/- 12 to 99 +/- 12 mmHg (both P less than 0.001). There was also a significant decrease in blood pressure during the recovery period after treadmill exercise. Enalapril reduced heart rate at peak exercise (P less than 0.05), but not at rest or during recovery. Thus enalapril alleviated the response of blood pressure to exercise in hypertensive patients and may help prevent hypertensive complications during daily activities.