Resistance to captopril in hypertension of coarctation of the aorta.

Two patients with hypertension due to coarctation of the aorta were treated for 12 weeks with captopril at increasing doses. After an immediate response, resistance developed to captopril, which was associated with restoration of initially elevated renin and plasma aldosterone levels. Lack of hypertension control may be related to long-term reappearance of mechanisms which lead to excessive renin stimulation.