Effect of the Ace Inhibitor Ceronapril on Cerebral Blood flow in Hypertensive Patients

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Abstract
Objective: To assess the effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ceronapril on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with moderate hypertension. Design: Patients received chlorthalidone 25 mg for 4 weeks, and if diastolic blood pressure remained in the range of 100–115 mm Hg, they were given titrated doses of ceronapril (10–40 mg/d based on blood pressure response) in addition to chlorthalidone for 9 weeks. Setting: Outpatient research clinic. Subjects: Eligible patients had moderate essential hypertension (diastolic blood pressure 100–115 mm Hg) assessed when the patients were receiving no medications. Thirteen patients were entered into the study; 1 withdrew for reasons unrelated to the study drug. Twelve patients (11 men, 1 woman; mean age 52 y) completed the study. Intervention: Ceronapril, given with chlorthalidone. Main Outcome Measures: CBF measurements were taken at the start and end of ceronapril therapy using intravenous 133Xe; blood pressures were determined weekly. Results: Mean arterial blood pressure decreased from 130 ± 4 to 120 ±7 mm Hg after 4 weeks of chlorthalidone administration, and fell further to 108 ± 8 mm Hg after an additional 9 weeks of combined chlorthalidone-ceronapril therapy (p < 0.05). CBF fell from 44 ± 15 to 34 ± 5 mL/min/100 g during the 9 weeks of combined therapy (p = 0.05). No adverse effects consistent with decreased CBF were observed. The decrease in CBF was not linearly correlated with the change in systemic blood pressure, but was strongly correlated (r = –0.937; p < 0.001) with the initial CBF. Conclusions: The decrease in mean arterial blood pressure was not associated with a decrease in CBF. Patients with high CBF may be predisposed to a decrease in CBF when treated with ceronapril and chlorthalidone.