Muzolimine and nitrendipine in the treatment of arterial hypertension

Thirty patients with moderate to severe hypertension (diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 115 mmHg), after a run-in wash out period of 15 days, were treated with muzolimine at a dosage of 20 mg once daily, given at 1 p.m., for three weeks. At the end of this period of treatment the patients with diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 100 mmHg started a double blind randomized study of comparison of nitrendipine, a vasodilator calcium antagonist agent, and captopril, an inhibitor of converting enzyme. The dosage was 10 mg twice daily for nitrendipine and 25 mg twice daily for captopril, the duration of each treatment being four weeks. At the end of 28 days of double blind treatment, the patients with diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 100 mmHg were treated with a triple combination: muzolimine plus nitrendipine plus captopril at the same dosage for a further four weeks. At the end of run-in and of each period of treatment blood pressure and heart rate were recorded in supine and erect positions and after a treadmill exercise test. At these times laboratory tests, including PRA and aldosterone, were performed. After the run-in period supine blood pressure was 189.6 +/- 13.9/123.1 +/- 7.7 mmHg. At the end of muzolimine treatment, supine blood pressure was 176.5 +/- 10.8/117.8 +/- 5.6 mmHg (p less than 0.001); at this time 4 patients had their diastolic blood pressure normalized and left the study. Thus 26 patients were randomized for comparative study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)