Comparison of the efficacy of an ACE-inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker in hypertensive asthmatics. A preliminiary report.

A series of 8 adult patients with stable bronchial asthma and an established diagnois of essential hypertension (WHO I and II) was studied in a randomized double-blind cross-over study to assess the effect of captopril (50-100 mg/day) and verapamil (160-240 mg/day) on blood pressure, lung function and asthmatic symptoms. The effect of the medication on blood pressure was significant with a mean of 137/86 mmHg and 148/90 mmHg after 4 weeks on captopril and verapamil, respectively, with fewer orthostatic changes caused by captopril. There were no marked changes of asthmatic symptoms or peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements during the trial.