The Use of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitors to Assess Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in Resistant Hypertension

Resistant hypertension is defined as blood pressure > 140/90 mm Hg while adherent to three or more antihypertensive medications or < 140/90 mm Hg treated with four or more antihypertensives. Patients with resistant hypertension may be at risk for elevated nighttime blood pressure >120/70 mm Hg and "non-dipping" (night/day blood pressure > 0.9). A higher rate of cardiovascular events occur during the "morning surge" partially attributed elevated nighttime blood pressure due to increased renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) activity. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) suppress RAAS activity

This prospective randomized parallel-group pilot study will occur at Memorial Family Medicine. Eligible patients will undergo three study visits over a 5-8 week span. After providing written informed consent, patients will complete an initial screening visit assessing 25 hour blood pressure using ambulatory blood pressure monitors. Patients will continue the study if they are found to have a nighttime blood pressure >120/70 mm Hg. Patients continuing the study will be randomly assigned to equivalent dose lisinopril or enalapril treatment arms and their administration time will be changed to "bedtime." At the final visit, patients will complete a final ambulatory blood pressure analysis to reassess nighttime blood pressure and dipping status.

It's expected that patients with enalapril treatment will have superior nighttime blood pressure reduction compared to the lisinopril treatment group. If the expected outcome occurs, more patients in the enalapril group will meet their nighttime blood pressure goal (<120/70 mm Hg) and exhibit a "dipping pattern." Current evidence suggests that patients with normal nighttime blood pressure and dipping pattern are at a lower risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.