Influence of chronically-administered enalapril on isotonic and isometric exercise in patients with moderate grade hypertension
De Biase, L.; Sulpizii, L.; Levantesi, G.; Amorosi, C.; De Felice, M.; Gallo, P.; Campa, P.P.
Cardiologia 34(10): 871-878
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0393-1978 PMID: 2557975 Document Number: 347024
We studied 11 patients affected by mild essential hypertension during chronic therapy with enalapril (E). After a pharmacological wash-out the patients were treated with E once a day (10-20 mg) for 4 weeks. Before and after the treatment period the patients were studied by means of the isotonic exercise stress test on the cycloergometer with increments of 25 W every 2 min and by means of the Sustained Handgrip test (SHG) at 70% of maximal capacity for 1 min. During the study period E reduced the blood pressure at rest in all patients without untoward effects. During the isotonic test and particularly during SHG, E reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) and the product systolic BP x heart rate. The treatment did not influence the time length of the isotonic exercise stress test. Our results suggest that E does not increase the MVO2 at rest and during different types of exercise: this can be very important because many patients affected by hypertension suffer from ischemic heart disease. E is utilized also in patients with heart failure, some of whom have an hypertensive or ischemic cardiomyopathy.