Treatment of chronic orthostatic hypotension with ergotamine.

The acute and chronic effects of ergotamine were examined in four patients with chronic orthostatic hypotension. Chronic oral administration of ergotamine tartrate produced significant increases in standing blood pressure and marked clinical improvement, without appreciable recumbent hypertension. The blood pressure increases were not associated with significant changes in plasma norepinephrine or plasma renin activity.

Effects of the oral angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor MK-421 in human hypertension.

1. The effects of the new oral angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor MK-421 on blood pressure, plasma renin activity, angiotensin-II, aldosterone and converting enzyme activity were assessed in 16 hypertensive patients followed for 6--18 weeks. 2.