The cardiovascular and endocrine effects of cilazapril, a new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, in man

Abstract

The cardiovascular and renin-angiotensin - aldosterone effects of cilazapril, a new angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor was evaluated in healthy Caucasians in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Cilazapril significantly inhibited plasma ACE activity, with a peak inhibition of 82% at 2 h and a residual inhibition of 41% persisting at 24 h. There was a biphasic and significant hypotensive effect, corresponding temporally to plasma AC E inhibition (P < 0.02, ANOVA). The hypotensive action was not accompanied by reflex tachycardia. Plasma renin activity rose significantly as a consequence of ACE inhibition (P < 0.05, ANOVA) but plasma aldosterone was unaltered. Cilazapril is a potent ACE inhibitor with a rapid onset and prolonged duration of antihypertensive and endocrine effects. Studies of the effects on ACE inhibition on the renin-angiotensin system in Africans are required.