Effects of enalapril on serum lipoproteins in mild essential hypertension

The effect of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril on serum lipids, apolipoproteins, and lipoproteins was studied in 21 patients with mild essential hypertension. The drug was administered at a dosage of 2.5 to 10 mg daily for 12 weeks. Enalapril significantly decreased the very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) fraction at eight and 12 weeks. The apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and A-II fractions were significantly increased by 10% and 7.8%, respectively, at 12 weeks. The apo B fraction and the apo B/apo A-I ratio were significantly decreased at eight weeks (8% and 17%, respectively) and at 12 weeks (11% and 19%, respectively). Unchanged were the total cholesterol level, the lipoprotein cholesterol level, the triglyceride level, apo C-II, apo C-III, apo E, and the apo A-I/apo A-II ratio. This study confirmed that enalapril is an effective antihypertensive drug with a favorable effect on the lipid profile.