Low-Dose Captopril for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Hypertension

In this article, the Veterans Administration Cooperative Study Group reported on their double-blind trial involving the new antihypertensive agent, captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Like all ACEs, captopril prevents the synthesis of angiotensin II, a hormone that usually causes blood vessels to constrict. Although acknowledging the need for further study, the group determined that captopril appeared to be a very effective antihypertensive agent, especially when administered in combination with the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide.