[Various combinations of antihypertensive drugs: comparative assessment in elderly patients]

68 elderly patients with hypertension stage II were treated with different combinations of antihypertensive drugs. 36 patients of group 1 received inhibitors of angiotension-converting enzyme (captopril) and calcium antagonists of prolonged action (adalat CL). 32 patients of group 2 received captopril and beta-blockers (atenolol). The patients were followed up for 12 months. Before and after the treatment the patients underwent 24-h monitoring of arterial pressure and echocardiography. The antihypertensive effect was more pronounced in group 1. Both combinations of the antihypertensive drugs prevented development and progression of myocardial hypertrophy due to hypertension. No significant changes in left ventricular contractility in response to these drug combinations were found.