[Clinical effectiveness of and tolerance to ramipril in the treatment of essential arterial hypertension phase 1 and 2. Results of a multicenter study].

BACKGROUND: In the last two decades, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors have become first line medications in the treatment of hypertension. AIM: To assess the tolerance and effectiveness of ramipril as monotherapy in the treatment of essential hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred eighty eight hypertensive patients, aged 21 to 80 years-old, coming from 4 Chilean hospitals were studied. Using an open non controlled design; they were treated with placebo for two weeks and with the active drug during eight weeks, in initial doses of 2.5 mg/day that were adjusted to 5 mg/day if diastolic blood pressure did not drop below 90 mm Hg or if its reduction was less than 10 mm Hg. RESULTS: During the active drug treatment period, systolic blood pressure decreased from 164.8 +/- 7.2 to 147.3 +/- 4.8 mm Hg. Diastolic blood pressure dropped from 102.3 +/- 3.1 to 87.8 +/- 3.0 mm Hg. Seventy percent of patients achieved a diastolic blood pressure of less than 90 mm Hg, 56.9% with 2.5 mg/day and 13.8% with 5 mg/day. Dizziness, cough and headache were the main adverse reactions, observed in 3.7, 3.2 and 2.1% of patients respectively. Adherence to treatment was 98%. There were no changes in laboratory values during the treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: Ramipril is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of essential hypertension.