Lisinopril effects on cerebral blood flow and blood rheology in hypertensive patients

Abstract

Aim. To access the effect of lisinopril (diroton) on cerebral circulation and blood rheology in patients with arterial hypertension stage II. Material and methods. The trial included 37 patients (16 males, 21 females) with a mean arterial hypertension (AH) history 15.9 ± 5.6 years. Diroton was given in a dose 10-40mg/dayfor 6 months. Cerebral circulation (total cerebral circulation and venous outflow - TCC and VOF) was accessed by means of doppler ultrasonography. Blood and plasm rheology was determined using a rotational viscozymeter ACP-2. Instrumental tests were performed at baseline and at the end of the study. Results. Rheology tests showed that diroton-treated patients achieved a significant decrease in blood viscosity in high, moderate and low shear stress and plasma viscosity, a decrease in platelet aggregation index and an increase in the index of erythrocytic deformability. All these changes were accompanied with a significant fall in fibrinogen and hematocrit. Doppler ultrasound revealed an insignificant increase in TCC and VOF. Conclusion. Diroton significantly improved impaired blood rheology and viscosity in AH patients as well as cerebral hemodynamics in patients with subnormal cerebral circulation and venous outflow at baseline.

Keywords

• arterial hypertension
• blood rheology
• cerebral blood flow
• lisinopril