Captopril and propranolol in mild and moderate essential hypertension: preliminary report.

A randomised open trial was carried out to test the efficacy and safety of Captopril and propranolol in 20 patients with mild and moderate essential hypertension. Mild and moderate was defined as a resting supine diastolic pressure of 100 to 120mmHg at the end of a placebo period. Patients were then randomised into Captopril (12) or propranolol (8) group. After a four-week dose ranging period, they were maintained on the treatment drug, or, if still uncontrolled, the other drug was added. The patients showed good overall blood pressure response to both treatment regimes. Three patients in the Captopril group developed a rash. The significance of the effectiveness in essential hypertension of a drug which acts to block the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is discussed.