Fixed combination of candesartan with hydrochlorothiazide in patients with severe primary hypertension.

摘要

OBJECTIVE: The new guidelines for treatment of hypertension by the JNC VII in 2003 permit the initial use of a combination therapy, if blood pressure has to be lowered more than 20/10 mmHg. The aim of this investigation was to document the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy with candesartan cilexetil and hydrochlorothiazide in severe hypertension. METHODS: 116 patients freshly diagnosed as having severe primary hypertension (Grade III) and untreated for this condition were enrolled. The study was performed without a placebo control group for ethical reasons. Thus, all patients were treated for 6 weeks with 16mg candesartan cilexetil plus 12.5mg hydrochlorothiazide daily after forced titration with 8 and 16 mg candesartan cilexetil each for