Effects of enalapril on 24-hour blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension

Abstract

The effects of enalapril on 24-hour blood pressure were evaluated in patients with essential hypertension using a noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring system. Both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures began to decrease approximately 3 hours after the oral administration of a single 5-mg dose of enalapril; this effect persisted for about 24 hours. Blood pressure adequately decreased after the administration of 10 mg of enalapril once daily in the morning for 2 weeks; the degree of reduction was smaller during the night than during the day. Enalapril administered once daily had adequate acute and chronic antihypertensive effects. The degree of the reduction in blood pressure was slight during the night. In addition, both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the higher pressure range markedly decreased, while those in the lower pressure range slightly decreased. These findings resemble the pattern of spontaneous physiologic reduction in blood pressure at rest, suggesting that enalapril has optimal antihypertensive characteristics. This drug may also be advantageous in terms of compliance and effects on quality of life.