Efficacy and safety of cilazapril, a new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor

Cilazapril (CIL), a new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, was evaluated for 16 weeks in 29 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension (diastolic pressure 95 mm Hg to 115 mm Hg). Twenty-four patients (83%) normalized their blood pressure (BP) (diastolic pressure less than 90 mm Hg), 11 with low-dose CIL, six with high-dose CIL, one with high-dose CIL plus low-dose thiazide, and six with high-dose CIL and high-dose thiazide. Three withdrew because of side effects (fatigue, bloating, and polyuria). Statistically significant reductions in sitting and standing systolic and diastolic pressures occurred at 8 and 16 weeks on CIL. There was no change in standing or sitting heart rate, white blood cell count, creatinine clearance, urine protein levels. This is the first long-term data on this new converting enzyme inhibitor in human beings.