[Evaluation of lisinopril and lisinopril-hydrochlorothiazide combination in mild to moderate arterial hypertension].

The main objective of this multicenter study was to compare the efficacy of an increase in dose and of a synergic combination in the 68 patients out of 126 (54%) with hypertension (DBP between 95 and 120 mm Hg after 2 weeks of placebo) who did not respond (DBP > or = 95 mmHg) to a 4-week treatment of 20 mg per day of lisinopril. Patients were randomized to receive a 4-week double-blind treatment of either 40 mg per day of lisinopril or the combination of 20 mg of lisinopril and 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide per day. Mean reductions of systolic (inter-group comparison: p = 0.08) and diastolic BP (p = 0.006) as well as the proportion of responders (82% versus 45%, p < or = 0.01) were greater with the lisinopril-hydrochlorothiazide combination than with 40 mg of lisinopril. Tolerance was good in the 3 groups. The administration of a synergic combination is justified when hypertension is not controlled by a monotherapy.