Differential effects of a missed dose of trandolapril and enalapril on blood pressure control in hypertensive patients.

A double blind randomised comparison of two angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors was made in a study in which ambulatory blood pressure was monitored over a steady-state dosage interval and the subsequent 24-h period, the latter being designed to mimic a missed dose of drug. The blood pressure responses on active therapy were compared to an identical recording made at the end of a 3-week placebo run in period. Eighty-eight essential hypertensives were treated with a morning dose of either trandolapril 2 mg or enalapril 20 mg. Mean systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were calculated on each of the following periods: daytime (8:31 a.m.-10:30 p.m.), nighttime (10:31 p.m.-6:30 a.m.), and early morning (6:31 a.m.-8:30 a.m.). Trough/peak was calculated for each group both on active treatment and after a missed dose. Twelve patients were excluded from analysis before opening the randomisation code because of inadequate ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) recordings. Demographic data, placebo-period office blood pressure, and ABPM recordings were not significantly different between the two groups. Both trandolapril and enalapril effectively reduced blood pressure over the 24-h period. Twenty four-hour ambulatory SBP and DBP decreased from 148 +/- 14/92 +/- 10 mm Hg to 135 +/- 14/83 +/- 10 mm Hg in the trandolapril group (p < 0.001). The same parameters decreased to a quite similar extent after enalapril, from 143 +/- 13/91 +/- 5 mm Hg to 133 +/- 15/83 +/- 8 mm Hg (p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)