Lisinopril in the treatment of hypertensive patients with renal impairment.

Lisinopril, a long-acting angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, is excreted unchanged by the kidney. To determine how reduced renal function affects the drug's antihypertensive efficacy and safety, we studied 26 patients with hypertension associated with impaired renal function, having glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) of 60 ml/minute or less. These patients were enrolled in an open trial of 12 weeks' duration. They were given single daily doses of lisinopril, starting with 2.5 mg in patients with a GFR of less than 30 ml/minute, and 5 mg in the other patients. The dose was titrated to a maximum of 40 mg daily according to the blood pressure response. A diuretic was then added if required. Mean sitting and standing blood pressures at four, eight, and 12 weeks of treatment were significantly reduced compared with pretreatment values. The median dose of lisinopril was 10 mg daily (range, 2.5 to 40 mg), and only four patients required the addition of a diuretic. The mean GFR was unchanged during the study (36 +/- 16.4 ml/minute at baseline, 39 +/- 20.8 ml/minute after 12 weeks of treatment). Twenty-five patients completed the study. The one patient withdrew because of nausea and vomiting due to reflux esophagitis, which was probably not drug-related. Another patient had transient angioneurotic edema and continued to receive lisinopril. No clinically significant hematologic or biochemical abnormalities were observed. Sixteen patients continued to receive lisinopril for one year. Blood pressure control and GFR were well maintained throughout. Thus, in a group of patients who are often difficult to treat, lisinopril provided highly effective blood pressure control and was generally well tolerated.