Comparative effects of 2.5 and 5 mg cilazapril versus placebo on daily blood pressure load

Abstract

The antihypertensive efficacy of 2.5 and 5 mg cilazapril and placebo in lowering 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and BP load were compared in 42 patients with mild to moderate hypertension. After a 2-week placebo run-in period, patients were randomized double-blind to receive either 2.5 mg cilazapril (n = 14), 5 mg cilazapril (n = 14), or placebo (n = 14) for 4 weeks. There were no significant differences in 24-h and awake ABP or in office BP between 2.5 and 5 mg cilazapril. Moreover, the percentage of patients that had BP control (mean daytime ABP less than 90 mm Hg) was 14% in the placebo group, 64% and 71% with 2.5 and 5 mg cilazapril, respectively. Furthermore, the percentage of BP load was similar with both regimens (29 v 36%). These observations indicate that 2.5 and 5 mg cilazapril have equipotent antihypertensive efficacy.