Effects of Lisinopril on Stress-Induced Peak Blood Pressure and Sodium Excretion: A Double-Blind Controlled Study

A stress test was performed before (S1) and after a 1-month treatment period (S2) in patients with essential hypertension, randomly allocated to receive either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), lisinopril (n=10), or placebo (n=10). The two groups were similar with regard to systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), body weight, renal function, and 24-h sodium excretion. At S1, stress induced a significant increase in SBP of 18±9 mm Hg and in DBP of 10±6 mm Hg and a significant reduction in sodium excretion from 258±105 to 204±72 μmol/min. Stress-induced sympathetic stimulation was assessed by a significant increase in urinary norepinephrine (NE) excretion from 21 ±10 to 26±10 μg/g creatinine