Using angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in African-American hypertensives: a new approach to treating hypertension and preventing target-organ damage.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been avoided as an initial therapeutic option in the treatment of hypertension in African-Americans. A major reason for this has been the widespread perception of clinicians that these agents have poor blood pressure (BP) lowering efficacy in this population. Remarkably uniform and pervasive interpretations of clinical trial data have formed the basis of this clinical perception and can be summarised as follows: (1) there has been a lesser BP lowering effect of ACE inhibitors in African-Americans compared to whites, particularly at low doses; and (2) short-acting ACE inhibitors like captopril prescribed at the midpoint of its maximal total daily dose lower BP less effectively than higher doses of calcium antagonists in African-Americans. A reinterpretation of published data from these same clinical trials suggests that: (1) the majority of African-Americans have meaningful BP responses to ACE inhibitors, albeit at a higher average dose than in whites; and (2) high levels of dietary sodium intake appear to explain a significant portion of the racial differences in BP response at the lower doses of ACE inhibitors. Thus, ACE inhibitors can effectively lower BP in African-Americans. These data suggest that the clinician should not avoid these agents in African-Americans because of a presumed lack of BP lowering efficacy. Rather, we should recognise the importance of adequate drug dosing and modest reductions in dietary sodium intake in augmenting the BP lowering effect of ACE inhibitors in hypertensive African-Americans.