Treatment for one year with perindopril: effect on cardiac mass and arterial compliance in essential hypertension

Abstract

Blood pressure, forearm arterial haemodynamics and echocardiographic parameters were studied in patients with sustained essential hypertension before and after administration of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor perindopril for 1 year. Perindopril significantly reduced blood pressure and at the same time increased brachial artery blood flow, diameter and compliance. As part of the haemodynamic investigation, a 5-min period of wrist occlusion was performed. Blood flow velocity decreased significantly to the same extent with perindopril and with placebo, but the corresponding reductions in arterial diameter were smaller with perindopril than with placebo, indicating that the increase in diameter following perindopril could not be explained solely on the basis of a flow-dependent dilation. After 3 months, treatment was stopped for 4 weeks. Blood pressure and forearm arterial haemodynamics returned towards baseline values. However, cardiac mass, which was significantly decreased after perindopril administration, remained decreased 4 weeks after cessation of treatment. In seven responder patients, perindopril was continued as sole therapy for 8 months. Arterial compliance remained elevated and cardiac mass diminished. The study showed that the arterial changes caused by perindopril involved a drug-related relaxation of arterial smooth muscle and that there was a differential response in cardiac and arterial changes following long-term treatment.