[Effect of captopril on various components of the kinin system and plasma renin activity in patients with idiopathic arterial hypertension].

Authors studied effect of captopril on serum kininogen and prekallikrein concentrations, as well as on plasma renin activity (PRA) in patients with primary hypertension. The control group consisted of 18 healthy persons, 5 patients were in I, 12 in II and 8 in III WHO class. Monotherapy with 150 mg per day of captopril had been performed for 3 weeks. Patients were 3 times examined: 1--before therapy, 2--after 24 hours of treatment, 3--after 3 weeks of captopril therapy. It was proved, that captopril lowers arterial pressure with coexisting PRA increase and induces changes in kinins system such as: decrease of kininogen+ concentration and increase of serum prekallikrein level in comparison with their pretreatment values. Maximum PRA increase and blood pressure decrease were observed after 24 hours of captopril administration, whereas changes in kinins system were taking place during the whole observation period. Presented studies indicate that antihypertensive action of captopril is related to Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System as well as to plasma kinins one.