[Combined captopril and labetalol treatment of malignant arterial hypertension (author's transl)].

Five patients with malignant arterial hypertension and terminal (3) or advanced (2) renal failure were treated with the alpha-beta blocker labetalol and the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril. Labetalol alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents had been ineffective in two cases and captopril alone in one; yet hypertension was rapidly controlled when the two drugs were given together. The return of blood pressure to normal levels brought about regression of digitalis-resistant cardiac failure in 2 patients and slight improvement of renal function in 2 other patients. The captopril-labetalol combination probably has a synergistic effect, and although its mechanism remains obscure this effect may be used to treat patients with severe or malignant arterial hypertension.