COMPARISON OF BENAZEPRIL 10-MG AND THE FIXED COMBINATION BENAZEPRIL 5-MG HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE 6.25-MG ON EXERCISE BLOOD-PRESSURE

This double-blind placebo-controlled study was designed to compare the efficacy of benazepril 10 mg (BZ 10) and the low-dose combination benazepril 5 mg/hydrochlorothiazide 6.25 mg (BZ + HCTZ) on exercise blood pressure in 71 patients with mild to moderate hypertension (diastolic blood pressure 95 to 114 mmHg at the end of a 2 week placebo run-in). A significant fall of systolic (SBF) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure at rest was seen after a 4-week treatment period in the two active groups (-21.9/-10.3 mmHg with BZ 10, -19.5/-11.2mm Hg with BZ+HCTZ) and was greater in these two groups than in the placebo group (-7.5/-2.5 mmHg, p < 0.01). For each level of the exercise test on bicycle ergometer, SEP falls seen after 1 month were significant in the two active groups (from -15 to -23 mmHg depending on the level and treatment group). The evolution of the SBP/heart rate slope was significantly different among the two active groups in favour of the BZ 10 regimen. The exercise test proved to be a valuable tool to show any difference between two treatments with comparable efficacy on SBP/DBP at rest.