[Evaluation of the cardiac and peripheral vascular effects of the administration of single-dose enalapril and captopril in essential arterial hypertension]

The effects of single orally-administered dose of enalapril and captopril on central and district-peripheral circulations have been studied in 20 patients with essential arterial hypertension. Either drug caused a decrease in arterial pressure, telesystolic and telediastolic parietal stress, and a reduction in the peripheral vascular resistance of upper limb district. Furthermore, at the upper limb district level, increases in arterial flow and venous-system capacity have been observed. The entity of these modifications induced by enalapril and captopril appeared comparable, according to the respective peak-time and used dosages. Under this study conditions, the difference between the drugs resulted to be essentially of chronological nature.