Converting enzyme inhibition in mild and moderate essential hypertension. I. Acute effects on blood pressure, the renin-angiotensin system and blood bradykinin after a single dose of captopril.

The acute effects of 25 mg captopril on blood pressure, heart rate, components of the renin-angiotensin system and blood concentration of bradykinin were followed in a single-blind placebo study of untreated (group A, n = 15) and thiazide-treated (group B, n = 13) patients with mild or moderate essential hypertension. A drug-related fall in blood pressure was seen in both groups. The blood pressure reduction was more marked in group B than in group A. Heart rate remained unchanged. Plasma concentrations of angiotensin II decreased significantly with concurrent increases in plasma concentrations of renin and angiotensin I, indicating the in vivo inhibition of converting enzyme. Blood concentrations of bradykinin showed no systemic changes. The magnitude of blood pressure reduction was correlated both with the pretreatment levels and the concurrent decreases in plasma angiotensin II. Inhibition of angiotensin II formation can explain a large part of the acute hypotensive pharmacological action of captopril. Other vasoactive systems may be involved. The kallikrein-kinin system does not appear to participate as indicated by the unchanged concentrations of kinin in blood.