RESUMEN
The efficacy of captopril 25 mg/day as monotherapy or when necessary, in association with hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg/day, was studied during three months in 472 patients, average age 45 (17-59) years, 51% males with mild (73%) 95 less than PAD less than 104 mmHg, and moderate (27%) arterial hypertension 104 less than PAD less than 114 mmHg. Were included in the study hypertensive patients with previous antihypertensive therapy or when in the course of any previous antihypertensive treatment (52.4%) blood pressure control were not observed and side effects compromised patient's compliance. Captopril 25 mg/day was used once a day as single dose or subdivided in two daily doses (12.5 mg b.i.d.), during 30 days. If blood pressure was not normalized or dyastolic blood pressure drop was not equal or bigger than 10% after this period, it was added hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg/day. After three months under treatment, 411 (87%) patients normalized their dyastolic blood pressure DBP (less than 90 mmHg), from them, 273 (57.6%) had received only captopril and the others 138 (29.4%) with the addition of hydrochlorothiazide. The drop of mean arterial pressure, MAP = 2 DBP + 1 SBP was in average, 17.3 mmHg, in the 3 patients whose blood pressure normalized with captopril alone, and in average of 18.5 mmHg in those patients requiring addition of hydrochlorothiazide (difference without statistical significance). A small decrease of body weight, but with statistical significance (p less than 0.001) were observed during the use of captopril as monotherapy. Expressive reduction of side effects were observed during the period under captopril related to the period with previous antihypertensive therapy.