Volume 3, Number 1, March 2002

Interaction of ACE inhibitors and AT₁-receptor blockers on maximum blood pressure response in spontaneous hypertensive rats
Trefor Morgan, Cory Griffiths, Lea Delbridge

This study in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) was designed to determine whether a greater fall in blood pressure (BP) could be achieved with the combination of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) and an AT₁-receptor blocking drug than with higher doses of either drug alone.
The peak effect of captopril occurred 3–4 hours post-dose and a plateau response was achieved with 10 mg/kg. The peak effect of losartan occurred 7–8 hours post-dose and a plateau response was achieved with 10 mg/kg. Increasing the dose of either drug caused no greater fall in BP, but increased the duration of the effect.
Captopril, 10 mg/kg, administered with losartan 10 mg/kg caused a greater fall in BP than captopril or losartan, 20 mg/kg. This was present after acute doses or after one week of daily therapy.
The combination of ACE-I and AT₁-blocking drugs is more effective than either therapy alone and may be a useful combination to manage hypertension and/or cardiac failure.

JRAAS 2002;3:16-18.

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