Acute and chronic treatment of severe and malignant hypertension with the oral angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril.

The patients with severe and 10 with accelerated or malignant hypertension were treated with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril. Captopril acutely reduced blood pressure in all patients except two who had suppressed plasma renin activity. Four patients with encephalopathy showed immediate improvement after the first dose. Two patients could be withdrawn from nitroprusside infusion upon administration of captopril. Nineteen of 20 patients have remained on captopril for 12-32 months. Blood pressure is controlled in 18 and improved in two. Eleven required addition of diuretic and one addition of clonidine. The maximal antihypertensive effect of captopril with or without diuretics was evident after 3 months of continuous therapy and was associated with elevated plasma renin levels, normal aldosterone excretion and preservation of renal function. Captopril was well-tolerated, but produced occasional rash, loss of taste and proteinuria. We conclude that captopril, alone or in combination with other drugs, is effective in both the acute and long-term management of severe and malignant hypertension.