Effects of converting enzyme inhibitor on hepatic blood flow in man.

The acute effects of the oral angiotension converting enzyme inhibitor captopril on hepatic blood flow and systemic hemodynamics were studied in six patients with essential hypertension. Mean arterial pressure decreased from 141.9 +/- 6.9 mm Hg to 130.2 +/- 6.7 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) one hour after the administration of captopril. There was no significant change in other hemodynamic values, but hepatic blood flow decreased uniformly from 1,127 +/- 115 ml per minute to 841 +/- 93 ml per minute (p less than 0.001).