FUNCTIONAL STATE DYNAMICS OF BLOOD CELLS AND ENDOTHELIUM IN PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION WITH ENALAPRIL TREATMENT

Abstract

The influence of ACE inhibitor enalapril therapy on functional activity of blood cells and vasomotor function of endothelium in patients with essential hypertension (EH) was studied. 21 patients with EH II stage and 17 almost healthy persons (all males) were included. Ultrasound of heart, radial and carotid arteries, spontaneous platelet and erythrocyte aggregation, erythrocyte deformity and leukocyte activity were assessed. The second examination of patients with EH was carried out in 12 weeks following enalapril treatment with 10-40 mg a day. Baseline increase of spontaneous platelet and erythrocyte aggregation, erythrocyte hardness and leukocyte activity were revealed in patients with EH. Antihypertensive effect of enalapril was in 15 patients (71 %). Hemoreology improvement and decrease of leukocyte activity were accompanied by increase of volume flow velocity in radial artery while endothelium-dependent vasodilation was unchanged. Long-term enalapril therapy was accompanied by improvement of hemoreology, decrease of leukocyte activity and increase volume flow velocity in radial artery. Positive dynamics of functional states of blood cells did not depend on severity of antihypertensive effect of enalapril.

Keywords

• essential hypertension
• leukocyte activation endothelial dysfunction
• enalapril
• hemoreology