Long-term acceptability of perindopril: European multicenter trial on 856 patients.

The acceptability of perindopril in the long-term treatment of patients with mild to severe essential hypertension was assessed in a large European multicenter trial including 856 patients. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at inclusion was 95-125 mm Hg after 1 month of placebo. Normalization of blood pressure was defined as a DBP less than or equal to 90 mm Hg. Treatment was started with perindopril 4 mg once daily and increased when necessary to 8 mg daily. If DBP was not controlled, a second drug (hydrochlorothiazide) and finally a third drug were added. After 1 year of treatment in all 690 evaluable patients, supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 29 mm Hg (from 172 +/- 1 to 143 +/- 1 mm Hg, p less than 0.001) and 19 mm Hg (from 105 +/- 1 to 86 +/- 1 mm Hg, p less than 0.001), respectively. Perindopril monotherapy normalized blood pressure in 55% of patients and total percentage of normalization was 78%. The overall incidence of withdrawals for side effects was 6.8%, the most common side effect being cough (2.2%). The most frequent complaints reported were cough (7.0%), headache (5.6%), asthenia (5.1%), mood and/or sleep disturbance (5.1%), and dizziness (3.2%). The small changes observed in hematologic and biochemical parameters were not clinically relevant.

Myocardial effects of early therapy with perindopril during experimental cardiomyopathy.

The effects of chronic angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition on intrinsic myocardial contractility of the failing myocardium have been poorly documented. In the present study, inotropy, lusitropy, and economy of force generation were studied in vitro in papillary muscles from cardiomyopathic Syrian hamster (CSH) under early perindopril therapy, i.e., therapy begun at a stage when experimental heart failure was not yet observed. One-month-old CSH from the dilated strain Bio 53.58 were randomly treated over a 5-month period with either the ACE inhibitor perindopril 1 mg/kg/day (n = 11) or placebo (n = 11), and 7 age-matched controls were given placebo. Compared with control, placebo had a lower maximum shortening velocity (Vmax) (p < 0.01) and normalized total force (p < 0.05), and a lower curvature of the force-velocity relationship (p < 0.01). It has been shown that the higher the value of the curvature, the better the myothermal economy of force generation. Compared with placebo, perindopril had a 68% inhibition of plasma ACE activity and a greater Vmax (p < 0.05), whereas total force/mm2 was similar. This resulted in a lesser decrease of the curvature compared to control (p < 0.05). Placebo had a decreased peak lengthening velocity and rate of force decline. However, compared to control, no intrinsic abnormalities of the relaxation phase were observed in either placebo or perindopril when relaxation parameters were corrected for the lower systolic performance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acceptability of perindopril in mild-to-moderate chronic congestive heart failure. Results of a long-term open study in 320 patients.

The long-term acceptability of perindopril in mild-to-moderate chronic heart failure (CHF) was evaluated in a multicenter open study. A total of 320 patients with a mean age of 62 +/- 1 years and CHF of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I (2 patients), II (204 patients), or III (114 patients) were included after a 2-week run-in period during which time vasodilators were stopped and diuretic and/or digoxin therapy stabilized. Perindopril treatment was started at 2 mg, increasing to 4 mg once daily after 2 weeks if supine systolic blood pressure remained > 100 mm Hg. After this dose titration period, follow-up visits were scheduled at monthly intervals for the first 3 months, then at 3-month intervals with a maximum period of follow-up being 30 months. At the time of analysis, mean duration of treatment was 276 days and 208 patients were treated > or = 6 months. Of the 320 patients, 10 (3.1%) died, 9 (2.8%) were withdrawn for worsening heart failure, and 38 (11.9%) for nonfatal adverse events, including cough (2.8%), dizziness or orthostatic discomfort (1.9%), angina pectoris (1.6%), and cutaneous signs (1.3%). Exercise test duration increased from 516 +/- 14 to 659 +/- 19 sec after 6 months of treatment (p < 0.01). At 6 months, 55.6% of patients improved by at least 1 NYHA class. Supine systolic blood pressure decreased slightly from 137 +/- 2 to 132 +/- 1 mm Hg (p < 0.01) and plasma creatinine levels remained stable from 100 +/- 2 to 102 +/- 2 mumol/liter after 6 months of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Vascular and myocardial protective effects of converting enzyme inhibition in experimental heart failure.

Systemic vasoconstriction due to stimulation of the sympathetic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems is a hallmark of heart failure and this is accompanied by impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations at the level of large arteries. This study investigated, in a rat model of heart failure, whether such an endothelial dysfunction also exists at the level of the resistance artery, and whether this is associated with morphologic changes, as well as the effects of chronic treatment with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor perindopril (2 mg/kg/day). After 12 months, arterial pressure, left ventricular (LV) end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and LV dP/dt were measured in anesthetized rats. Responses to acetylcholine and nitroprusside were determined in isolated and perfused mesenteric artery segments (diameter: 280 +/- 15 microns). After fixation, vessel diameter, media cross-sectional area, and media collagen and elastin densities were measured by image analysis. After 12 months, untreated rats showed signs of heart failure, i.e., reduced LV dP/dt, and increased LVEDP, heart weight/body weight, LV cavity circumference, and myocardial collagen density. In mesenteric vessels the endothelium-dependent vasodilator response to acetylcholine was impaired, whereas the response to the nitric oxide donor nitroprusside was unaffected. Heart failure did not affect vascular morphological parameters. Perindopril decreased blood pressure and LVEDP without any modification of LV dP/dt, and prevented cardiac remodeling. At the vascular level, perindopril improved the response to acetylcholine and reduced media cross-sectional area and collagen density without affecting internal vessel diameter or elastin density. Thus, heart failure decreases endothelium-dependent vasodilator response to acetylcholine without modification of vessel structure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Prevention of endothelial dysfunction in small and large arteries in a model of chronic heart failure. Effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) impairs endothelium-dependent vasodilatation of large conductance arteries. We investigated whether a similar reduction also occurs in small arteries, and whether such a reduction can be prevented by the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor perindopril (P) in a rat model of CHF (left coronary artery ligation). After 1 month treatment with placebo or P (2 mg/kg/day), rats were anesthetized and arterial pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and central venous pressure were measured with a micromanometer. Segments of aorta and mesenteric artery (mean diameter, 281 +/- 8 microns) were then isolated, cannulated, and perfused at constant pressure using an arteriograph. Responses to increasing concentrations of acetylcholine (Ach), nitroprusside, and to 10(-4) mol/L NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) were studied after preconstriction by phenylephrine. Heart failure resulted in a decrease in systolic and diastolic pressures, an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic and central venous pressures, and a significant depression of Ach-induced dilatation of the mesenteric artery (maximal dilatation, from 90 +/- 4% to 63 +/- 4%, P < .05) but not of the aorta (from 56 +/- 8% to 45 +/- 5%, NS) without any modification in the endothelium-independent vasodilatation induced by nitroprusside. In the group treated by the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor perindopril, systolic and diastolic pressures were slightly decreased, whereas left ventricular end diastolic, central venous pressures, and the endothelium-dependent vasodilating response to Ach were normalized. Responses to L-NAME were not affected by CHF or perindopril. Perindopril also decreased hypertrophy, as evidenced by a significantly lower heart weight in treated rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Digoxin pharmacokinetics and perindopril in heart failure patients.

The influence of chronic perindopril treatment on digoxin pharmacokinetics was investigated in 10 patients with mild chronic heart failure under stable diuretic and digitalis treatment and normal renal function. Digoxin was administered at a dose of 0.125 mg/day (n = 2) or 0.250 mg/day (n = 8). The 24-hour steady-state digoxin profile was assessed before and after concomitant administration of perindopril for 1 month at doses of 2 mg once a day for the first 8 days and 4 mg once a day for the remaining 21 days. Chronic treatment with perindopril produced no significant effect on mean (+/- standard deviation) digoxin serum area under the curve for 24 hours (17.9 +/- 7.4 versus 16.3 +/- 4.4 ng/mL.h), peak digoxin concentration (1.3 +/- 0.54 versus 1.2 +/- 0.36 ng/mL), time to peak concentration (3 versus 4 hours), and apparent oral clearance of digoxin (237.7 +/- 109.6 versus 237.4 +/- 79.5 mL/min). Clinical and biologic tolerance of perindopril was good throughout the study. Chronic administration of perindopril did not alter steady-state digoxin kinetics in patients with mild chronic heart failure and normal renal function, indicating that no adaptation of the digoxin dose is required during co-prescription with perindopril in such patients.

Perindopril plus nifedipine versus perindopril plus hydrochlorothiazide in mild to severe hypertension: a double-blind multicentre study. The Multicentre Study Group on Treatment Association with Perindopril.

Thiazide diuretics are considered as the choice drug to combine with ACE inhibitors for the treatment of hypertension. However, there is much evidence showing that the combination of ACE inhibitors with a calcium channel blocker is effective and safe. We compared the safety and efficacy of perindopril 8 mg once daily plus nifedipine SR 10 mg twice daily with perindopril 8 mg once daily plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 mg once daily in a two phase three month study. After a one month placebo run-in period, patients whose DBP averaged 95-125 mmHg received perindopril 4 mg once daily for the first open phase (n = 524). After one month those whose DBP remained > 90 mmHg were prescribed perindopril 8 mg once daily for a second month. Among them, those whose DBP were still > 90 mmHg entered the second phase for one month, in a double-blind fashion. Fifty-three patients received HCTZ (BP: 161.2/99.2 +/- 2.0/0.9 mmHg), 57 received nifedipine (BP: 161.4/98.7 +/- 2.2/0.7 mmHg). Five patients withdrew due to side-effects, three patients in the perindopril plus nifedipine group and two in the perindopril plus HCTZ group. After one month there was a significant drop in BP (P < 0.01) in both groups: perindopril plus HCTZ (-13.9/-11.9 mmHg) and perindopril plus nifedipine (-12.1/-10.8 mmHg). Heart rate was not significantly modified: perindopril plus HCTZ (-1.30 beats/min), perindopril plus nifedipine (+0.54 beats/min). There were no significant difference between the two combinations for BP reduction and heart rate. The incidence of adverse experiences was similar in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Prolonged beta blockade due to tertatolol: a comparative study with propranolol and atenolol.

Submaximal exercise heart rate was measured after oral administration of placebo, tertatolol 5 mg, propranolol 80 mg, and atenolol 100 mg to 12 subjects in a double-blind cross-over study. The peaks of beta-blocking activity, observed at 2 hr, were of similar extent for the 3 drugs. The duration of activity of tertatolol, a beta blocker with a short elimination half-life, extended up to 24 hr as did that of atenolol, but was longer than that of propranolol which reached only 18 hr. These results support once-daily administration of tertatolol in therapy.

[Perindopril: first-line treatment of arterial hypertension]. / Perindopril: traitement de première intention de l'hypertension artérielle.

The effectiveness and acceptability of perindopril (P) as an antihypertensive agent were compared with those of captopril (C), atenolol (A) and a combined hydrochlorothiazide + amiloride diuretic (D) in three simultaneous multicentre double-blind trials involving 165, 173 ans 165 patients respectively. After a 1 month placebo period, 3 groups of patients with essential hypertension whose DAP in supine position ranged from 95 to 125 mmHg (means: 103.9, 106.2 and 105.2 mmHg respectively) were allocated at random to treatment with either P (4 mg once a day) or C (25 mg b.d.) or A (50 mg once a day) or D (hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg + amiloride 5 mg once a day) during 3 months. The patients were re-examined monthly and their treatment was modified if their BP was insufficiently controlled (DAP greater than 90 mmHg): first, the dosage of the drug was doubled, then another antihypertensive agent was added, which was either a diuretic (studies with C or A) or a beta-blocker (studies with D). After 3 months, in the monotherapy group BP was controlled in 49 p. 100 of patients on P versus 49 p. 100 on C; 55 p. 100 on P versus 48 p. 100 on A and 72 p. 100 on P versus 72 p. 100 on D. The majority of patients who received P alone were controlled with 4 mg, and only 15 p. 100 required 8 mg. In cases where BP control necessitated a therapeutic combination, the addition of a diuretic was more effective with P than with C (26 p. 100 versus 8 p. 100) or A (23 p. 100 versus 10 p. 100), whereas the addition of a beta-blocker was less effective with P than with D (5 p. 100 versus 13 p. 100). The total percentage of controlled patients was greater with P than with C (75 p. 100 versus 57 p. 100, p = 0.016) or with A (78 p. 100 versus 58 p. 100, p = 0.006); there was non significant difference between P and D (78 p. 100 versus 84 p. 100). The percentages of patients who discontinued treatment were similar with P (6 p. 100 at most), C (4 p. 100), A (5 p. 100) and D (5 p. 100). Most of the side-effects reported with P were minor and unspecific, and their incidence was close to that observed with the other drugs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Cardiomyopathy in the Syrian hamster. Physiological and therapeutic aspects]. / La cardiomyopathie du hamster Syrien. Aspects physiopathologiques et thérapeutiques.

The primary hereditary cardiomyopathy of the Syrian hamster is a particularly interesting model of experimental cardiomyopathy 1) because of its slow progression to cardiac failure unlike acute experimental volume and pressure overloading; 2) because of the reproducibility and predictable nature of the mechanical, biochemical and electrophysiological abnormalities observed at each stage of the disease; 3) because of involvement of other muscle groups, and particularly, skeletal muscle. The physiopathology is not fully understood but a disturbance of intracellular calcium homeostasis appears to play a major role. From the therapeutic point of view, a number of calcium antagonists have been shown to be effective in restoring myocardial function, but they have no effect on skeletal muscular lesions. Recently, early prophylactic intervention with therapeutic doses of perindopril has been shown to prevent the decrease of certain parameters of myocardial contractility in vitro in the dilated group, before the appearance of any signs of cardiac failure. This study also showed that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors had no intrinsic negative inotropic effects.

[Protective effects of perindopril in an experimental model of cardiomyopathy]. / Effets cardioprotecteurs du périndopril dans un modèle expérimental de cardiomyopathie dilatée.

The effects of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor on the intrinsic contractility of the myocardium in cardiac failure have not been studied intensively. The authors studied inotropism, lusitropism and economy of contraction in vitro on left ventricular papillary muscle preparations of cardiomyopathic Syrian hamsters (CSH) treated preventively with perindropil, i.e. before overt signs of cardiac failure. The CSH of the dilated Bio 53.58 strain aged 1 month were treated with perindropil 1 mg/Kg/day for 5 months (PE, N = 11) or with placebo (PL, N = 11) and control hamsters of the F1B strain received placebo (C, N = 7). Compared with C, PL had a significant reduction of the maximal velocity of contraction Vmax (p < 0.01) and of total isometric tension (TF/mm2), p < 0.05, and a reduction of the G curve of the hyperbolic Hill Force-Velocity relationship (p < 0.01). The G value is usually greater in models with improved economy of contraction. When compared with PL, PE showed a 68% inhibition of the plasma activity of ACE, a better Vmax (p < 0.05) but an unchanged TF/mm2. The G value was less depressed than that of C (p < 0.05). The velocity of isotonic relaxation (maxVL) and the negative peak of the derivative of the isometric force (-dF/dt max) were significantly lower in the PL than in the C group but these lusitropic abnormalities remained coordinated with those of the contraction phase, indicating the absence of an intrinsic effect on relaxation in cardiomyopathy. Perindopril prevented the reduction of maxVL but not that of -dF/dt max.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Total pericardectomy. Exceptional treatment for recurrent idiopathic cortico-dependent pericarditis]. / Péricardectomie totale. Traitement d'exception pour une péricardite idiopathique récidivante corticodépendante.

The authors report a case of definitive treatment of idiopathic relapsing pericarditis by total pericardectomy in the absence of signs of constrictive pericarditis after a 15 month period marked by multiple invalidating recurrences and the development of dependence on corticosteroid therapy. The indications of total pericardectomy must be discussed in these exceptional cases of failure of medical therapy in idiopathic relapsing pericarditis.

[Alveolar microlithiasis. Non-invasive diagnosis using alveolar lavage and technetium scintigraphy]. / Micro-lithiase alvéolaire. Diagnostic non invasif par lavage alvéolaire et scintigraphie au technetium.

A new case report of alveolar micro-lithiasis shows the diagnostic interest of two non invasive explorations to affirm a radiologic suspicion. Technetium showed calcium in the lung. The broncho-alveolar lavage, realised with a big quantity of fluid, removed the microliths. These two technics together avoid pulmonary biopsy.

[Noninvasive diagnosis of alveolar microlithiasis by Tc99m-MDP scintigraphy and alveolar lavage]. / Diagnostic non invasif de la microlithiase alvéolaire par la scintigraphie aux Tc99m-MDP et le lavage alvéolaire.

In a new case of alveolar microlithiasis we report the diagnostic value of two non-invasive examinations. In agreement with the histo-chemical date, scintigraphy with technetium shows an abnormal pulmonary fixation as evidence of the presence of intra-pulmonary calcium. The demonstration of micro-lithiasis in the alveolar lavage liquid, which requires a particular technique, confirms the diagnosis and avoids an open lung biopsy.

Perindopril: first-line treatment for hypertension.

The antihypertensive efficacy and acceptability of perindopril (P) were compared to those of captopril (C), atenolol (A) and a diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide + amiloride (D), in 3 double-blind parallel multicenter studies involving 165, 173, and 165 patients, respectively. Patients with essential hypertension and a supine DBP between 95 and 125 mmHg (mean 103.9, 106.2, and 105.2 mmHg, respectively) after a 1-month placebo period were randomized to P 4 mg once daily (o.d.) and either C 25 mg twice daily, or A 50 mg o.d. or D (hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg + amiloride 5 mg o.d.) and treated for 3 months, with visits at monthly intervals. If necessary, treatment was adjusted at each visit to control BP (supine DBP less than or equal to 90 mm Hg): firstly by doubling the dose and secondly, one month later, by the addition of a second drug, a diuretic in the studies versus C or A, a beta-blocker in the study versus D. At 3 months, BP control on monotherapy in the three studies was achieved in the following proportion of patients: 49% with P vs 49% with C; 55% with P vs 48% with A; 72% with P vs 72% with D. Most of the patients controlled by P received 4 mg, about 15% were controlled with 8 mg. A further percentage of patients was controlled with combination therapy, the combination with a diuretic being more effective with P than with C (26 vs 8%) or A (23 vs 10%) and the combination with a beta-blocker being less effective with P than with D (5 vs 13%). The total percentage of patients controlled was greater with P than with C (75 vs 57%, p = 0.016) or A (78 vs 58%, p = 0.006) and there was no significant difference between P and D (78 vs 84%). The drop-out rate due to side-effects was up to 6% with P, similar to that observed with C (4%), A (5%) and D (5%). Most of the complaints reported with P were minor and non-specific, their incidence being similar to that observed with the other drugs. Cough was reported with both P (1%) and C (2%) as well as with A (1%) and D (1%). Compared to these drugs, the biological acceptability of P was good, no case of renal failure being observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Assessment of antihypertensive efficacy of perindopril: results of double-blind multicenter studies versus reference drugs.

Perindopril (4 mg) was compared to atenolol (50 mg), captopril (25 mg b.i.d.), or a diuretic (hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg and amiloride 5 mg) in three studies involving a total of 503 hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 95-125 mm Hg. A 4-week single-blind placebo period preceded 12 weeks of active treatment. Dose titration was at weeks 4 and 8 if the supine DBP was greater than 90 mm Hg. The dose was doubled and, if necessary, a diuretic was added in atenolol or captopril comparison and atenolol added in the diuretic study. The fall in supine blood pressure (BP) was 27/17 mm Hg with perindopril and 21/16 mm Hg for atenolol. Fifty-five percent on perindopril and 48% on atenolol were controlled on monotherapy, increasing to 78 and 58% with addition of hydrochlorothiazide. Captopril caused a BP fall of 19/12 mm Hg compared to 27/18 mm Hg for perindopril with 49% of both groups being controlled on monotherapy. Diuretic addition produced a greater antihypertensive effect with perindopril 75% compared to 57% of the captopril patients achieving control. Perindopril caused a comparable fall in supine BP to the diuretic combination 27/19 mm Hg and 31/18 mm Hg but the fall in erect systolic BP was significantly greater for the diuretic. At 3 months, 84% of the diuretic and 78% of the perindopril group achieved the target BP. There were no adverse effects on the blood count or blood chemistry with a low incidence of side effects and withdrawals from treatment. These studies show that perindopril compares favorably with the standard antihypertensive drugs.

Airway response to salbutamol and to ipratropium bromide after non-selective and cardioselective beta-blocker.

Eight healthy men were randomly assigned in a latin square order to receive single doses of placebo, tertatolol 5 mg, propranolol 80 mg and atenolol 100 mg at 7-day intervals. Resting heart rate and pulmonary function were measured 10 min before and over the 240 min following dosing, and then 15 min after inhalation of salbutamol 200 micrograms and ipratropium bromide 40 micrograms. The three beta-blockers caused similar reductions in resting heart rate throughout the study, whereas placebo had no effect. The three beta-blockers, like placebo, produced no significant change in pulmonary function during the 240 min after dosing. The bronchodilator response to salbutamol after atenolol and placebo was preserved, whereas it was reduced after administration of either of the non-selective beta-blockers, tertatolol and propranolol. An unequivocal response of the airways to ipratropium bromide was observed after tertatolol and propranolol, which was much greater than after atenolol. No response was observed after placebo. Thus, despite bronchial beta 2-blockade, by non-selective beta-blockers, bronchodilatation was definitely produced by ipratropium bromide, confirming the predominant role of the parasympathetic system in the autonomic innervation of normal human airways.