[Have angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors improved therapy of hypertension?]

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors combined with diuretics and, if necessary, with calcium antagonists can be used with good success for the treatment of otherwise resistant hypertension. Calcium antagonists are an alternative for physically active hypertensive patients who complain of muscular fatigue during treatment with beta-receptor-blocking agents. The calcium antagonist nifedipine has made the treatment of hypertensive emergencies much easier than with the use of clonidine and particularly sodium nitroprusside. In order to determine the place of ACE-inhibitors and of calcium antagonists in the treatment of hypertension- particularly in comparison with beta-blockers and diuretics- controlled long-term studies on the prognosis of patients with mild to moderate hypertension and on the incidence of side effects would be required.