Lisinopril in elderly patients with hypertension.

The antihypertensive efficacy and safety of lisinopril, a long-acting angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, were assessed in 40 elderly patients (aged 65 years or over) with mild to moderate systolic/diastolic or isolated systolic hypertension, in an open study of 12 weeks' duration. Lisinopril was given orally in single daily doses. The starting dose was 5 mg in patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30-60 ml/min and 10 mg in patients with GFR greater than 60 ml/min. The dose of lisinopril could be titrated upwards to a maximum of 40 mg daily according to blood pressure response. A thiazide diuretic was then added if blood pressure was not controlled. Thirty-six patients completed the study. Mean sitting blood pressure was significantly reduced by lisinopril treatment. There was no significant alteration in the heart rate, and postural hypotension did not occur. The median dose of lisinopril given was 20 mg daily (range 5-40 mg daily), and only two patients had a diuretic added to the lisinopril. One patient was withdrawn from the study because of unstable angina, and another was discontinued from lisinopril treatment because of anorexia and facial flushing. One patient was withdrawn after 8 weeks because of interruption of lisinopril therapy for a transurethral resection of the prostate, and one patient was lost to follow-up. No clinically significant haematological or biochemical changes were observed. The mean glomerular filtration rate was unchanged during the study. Proteinuria did not occur de novo, nor did established proteinuria increase. Thus lisinopril was well-tolerated and effective therapy in a group of elderly hypertensive patients.