Acute haemodynamic effects of perindoprilat in essential hypertension at rest and during exercise

The acute haemodynamic effect of perindoprilat was examined at rest, supine and sitting, and during 100 W bicycle exercise in 12 patients (mean age 42 years) with essential hypertension. Intra-arterial blood pressure and the heart rate were recorded continuously. Cardiac output was measured by dye dilution (Cardiogreen) and blood volume was determined by radio-iodinated (125I) human serum albumin. Two hours after a slow (3 min) intravenous injection of perindoprilat, blood pressure was reduced in all patients (P less than 0.01)--at rest sitting from 175/108 to 153/97 mmHg (11%)--because of reduction in total peripheral resistance index (f = 2.63; P less than 0.05). Only minor changes were seen in the heart rate, stroke index and cardiac output. The fall in blood pressure was significantly (P less than 0.05) correlated with blood volume (r = 0.65) and pretreatment total peripheral resistance index (r = 0.59).