Effect of perindopril on pulse-wave velocity and endothelin-1 in black hypertensive patients.

Introduction: We investigated the effect of perindopril on pulse-wave velocity (as indicator of arterial elasticity) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in black hypertensive patients.

Methods: Forty-four newly diagnosed hypertensive patients who received 4 mg perindopril daily were monitored for nine months. Pulse-wave velocity (PWV) was measured noninvasively along the carotid-femoral arterial segment (high elastic content) and the brachial-ulnar segment (low elastic content).