[SECONDARY PREVENTION OF ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION IN VEHICLE DRIVERS--EFFICIENCY, SPECIFIC SAFETY]

To estimate effectiveness and safety of pharmacotherapy in vehicle drivers with arterial hypertension (AH).

432 patients with grade I-III AH including 82 with cardiovascular complications largely of II and III grade were under observation during 2.5-4 months using clinical and instrumental methods (24hr AP & ECG monitoring) as well as psychophysiological testing (PPT).

Ramipril and atenolol were efficient in 77.4 and 91.6% of the cases respectively; side effects were documented in 23.9 and 10.9%, somnolence and apathy in 13%, signs of somnolence in 2.2% of the cases. PPT revealed deterioration of the ability to drive (p < 0.05) in the patients given rampiril and the absence of its change in those receiving atenolol. Teveten (eprosartan) and diroton (lisinopril) were efficient in 94.8 and 81% of the cases but 8.6% of the patients refused to continue therapy because of side effects, such as somnolence, dry cough. Diroton deteriorated results of PPT (p < 0.05) and teveten improved them (p < 0.01). The effectiveness of isradipine (lomir), clophiline, estulic and trandolapril was 93.7, 7-87.5, 5-81.2, 2-82%. Isradipine had beneficial effect on PPT results (p

Assessment of efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in vehicle drivers must include evaluation of the degree and character of its influence on professional working ability. Beneficial effect of pharmacotherapy on the rapid response system with simultaneous normalization of AP and health status should be interpreted as evidence of specific safety and effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment.