Comparison of enalapril and bendrofluazide for treatment of systemic hypertension.

The antihypertensive and biochemical effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril were compared with those of the thiazide diuretic bendrofluazide. Patients with untreated mild to moderate essential hypertension were entered into a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study. Blood pressure (BP) decreased significantly (p less than 0.001) with either drug therapy: from 172/103 to 147/87 mm Hg (n = 18) with enalapril and from 179/104 to 165/95 mm Hg (n = 22) with bendrofluazide; thus, enalapril produced a greater reduction (p less than 0.05) than bendrofluazide. The median dose of enalapril was 20 mg/day (range 10 to 40) and that of bendrofluazide was 5 mg/day (range 2.5 to 10). Both drugs reduced serum sodium levels by small amounts. This was significant only for enalapril (decrease of 1.3 mmol/liter, p less than 0.05). Hyponatremia was not seen in any patient. Three patients were withdrawn from each treatment group due to adverse effects, although both drugs were generally well tolerated.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes