EFFECT OF CAPTOPRIL ON SERUM-LIPIDS, LIPOPROTEINS, APOLIPOPROTEINS, AND GLUCOSE-LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

The effects of captopril treatment (25 to 75 mg daily) on serum lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, and glucose levels were investigated for 24 weeks in 15 patients with essential hypertension who had total serum cholesterol levels over 200 mg/dl (240.3 +/- 5.9 mg/dl). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and glucose levels were measured every four weeks. Serum apolipoprotein A1 and B levels were measured at weeks 12 and 24. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol was calculated from total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol. No adverse effect was observed on lipid fractions or glucose levels. We found a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and in the concentration of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (for 24 weeks), triglyceride (at week 4), apolipoprotein B (at the 12th week), and the LDL/HDL ratio between weeks 4 and 24. We also observed a significant increase in serum HDL-cholesterol levels at week 12. As a result, captopril may be useful in preventing cardiovascular complications in hypercholesterolemic patients with essential hypertension.