Abstract
INTRODUCTION: We investigated the effect of perindopril on pulse-wave velocity (as indicator of arterial elasticity) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in black hypertensive patients. METHODS: Forty-four newly diagnosed hypertensive patients who received 4 mg perindopril daily were monitored for nine months. Pulse-wave velocity (PWV) was measured noninvasively along the carotid-femoral arterial segment (high elastic content) and the brachial-ulnar segment (low elastic content). RESULTS: There was a significant increase in arterial elasticity, as indicated by a slower PWV in the carotid-femoral segment of the treatment group, from 11.6 to 7.5 m/s after nine months. The PWV of the treatment group (7.5 m/s) after nine months was lower than that of the healthy volunteer group (8.2 m/s) but it was not statistically significant. No correlation between ET-1 and PWV could be found. CONCLUSION: In addition to its blood pressure-lowering effect, our study confirmed the improvement in arterial elasticity in patients on perindopril therapy, without involvement of ET-1.