[Usefulness of combined captopril-labetalol treatment in resistant hypertension (author's transl)]

Fifteen patients with severe or malignant resistant arterial hypertension were treated by simultaneous administration of captopril and labetalol. Seven patients (group A) were given captopril alone and 8 patients (group B) labetalol alone without noticeable results. However, when the two drugs were given jointly a significant fall in mean arterial pressure from 165 +/- 19.8 (+/- 1 S.D.) to 102.4 +/- 15.1 mmHg (p less than 0.001) in group A patients and from 162.7 +/- 20 to 117 +/- 21.4 mmHg (p less than 0.05) in group B patients was observed. There were no significant changes in heart rate, a few side-effects were recorded. The captopril-labetalol combination may be considered as a useful alternative treatment of resistant arterial hypertension.