A comparative study of endralazine and captopril in essential hypertension: effect on renin levels, pulmonary function studies and lipid profile.

A comparative study of the effects of captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and endralazine, a new vasodilator drug, were performed in a group of 20 homogeneous patients with moderate hypertension (WHO: phase I and II). Both drugs produced a marked (p less than 0.001) decrease in mean arterial pressure, but the drop in blood pressure levels and the percentage of patients free of side-effects (p less than 0.001) were greater in patients treated with endralazine. Neither drug affected the lipid profile, nor pulmonary function tests and both increased significantly (p less than 0.001) plasma renin activity levels. The results of this study suggest that both drugs may be recommended for the treatment of hypertensive asthmatic patients, but endralazine should be preferred as first-choice drug, due to its lower incidence of side-effects and higher hypotensive effect obtained with the administration of a lower daily dosage.