Effect of lisinopril on blood pressure and cerebrovascular reactivity in hypertensive patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Aim: To investigate the effects of lisinopril on blood pressure and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and Methods. Fifteen patients with AH and RA (age of 61 (52; 64) years; blood pressure (BP) of 147.0 (142; 156)/87.0 (82; 90) mmHg) received lisinopril during a six-month open controlled study. Ambulatory BP monitoring and evaluation of CVR were performed twice: initially and at the end of the study. CVR was evaluated using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) of the middle cerebral arteries (MCA) in hyperoxia and hypercapnia. Results. Treatment with Lisinopril significantly decreased CVR parameters in hyperoxia test as follows: the MCA coefficient of blood flow velocity change and the reactivity index significantly decreased by -28.6% (-39.32; 2.90) (р=0.037) and by -39% (“77; 7) (р=0.010), respectively, after lisinopril treatment. Conclusions. Lisinopril exerted a significant antihypertensive effect and improved CVR during hyperoxia in patients with AH and RA.