Effect of enalapril therapy on ventilatory pulmonary function tests in hypertensive patients

Fifty newly diagnosed nonsmoker patients suffering from mild to moderate hypertension (diastolic BP 90 to 114 mmHg), randomly selected and not having respiratory or other systemic diseases which may affect pulmonary functions were subjected to thorough interrogation and clinical examination. Twenty five normal age and sex matched healthy volunteers served as control. All patients and controls were subjected to ventilatory pulmonary function tests (VPFT), done by computerized spirometer. Hypertensive patients were put on oral enalapril, doses were titrated and maintained on 2.5 to 10 mg once daily. Twenty percent of the total hypertensive patients reported mild to moderate dry cough and was more frequently observed among females (27%). Significant decline was observed in MEF 50% and MEF 25% of vital capacity values (p 0.0204 and 0.0001) after 10 days of enalapril therapy. These two VPFT parameters showed significantly higher decline among patients who developed cough as compared to patients who did not develop cough. Decline in VPFT parameters were directly related to doses of enalapril.