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[Captopril treatment of neonatal arterial hypertension]
J M Moreno Villares1, C Barrio Andrés, C Gutiérrez Junquera
1Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Doce de Octubre, Madrid.
Insights
Captopril effectively treated hypertension in infants unresponsive to other drugs. Some patients experienced transient increases in kidney function markers and electrolytes, which resolved upon discontinuation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hypertension in newborn infants is challenging to manage.
- Limited data exists on captopril use in neonates.
- Captopril is an orally active angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor.
Abstract:
Captopril, an orally active angiotensin I-converting inhibitor, is an effective drug in the treatment of hypertension in adults and children. The use in newborn infants has been, nevertheless, short. We report five cases of hypertension in newborn infants poorly responsive to large doses of other potent antihypertensive agents: furosemide, propanolol and hydralazine. We have got a reduction in mean blood pressure in three cases, with doses of 0.1-0.2 mg/kg/day for a time lesser than a month. Another patient had a reduction with high doses (5 mg/kg), showing increase in mean serum urea, creatinin, potassium and phosphorus levels. This effect disappeared after captopril was discontinued. We suggest the use of captopril in hypertension non-responsive to other antihypertensive agents, mainly in those of renovascular cause.