[The drug of the month: a new antihypertensive association: Preterax, low doses of ACE inhibitor and thiazide in the same pill].

Preterax is the first fixed very- low - dose combination of an angiotensin--converting enzyme inhibitor and a diuretic for first line treatment of hypertension. Its antihypertensive efficacy is remarkable due to the presence of 2 drugs with additional effects. The tolerance is also excellent, with adverse effects similar to placebo. The 24 h blood pressure control is maintained. If necessary, the dose can be doubled (BiPreterax). The medical practitioner must keep in mind that it is an association of perindopril 2 mg and indapamide 0.625 mg with their own contra-indications. These low dose associations are now recommended as one of the 2 options to initiate an antihypertensive drug treatment, with the hope of an improvement in the percentage of well controlled blood pressure in the hypertensive population. Let us remember that the blood pressure target to be reached is at least < 140/90 mmHg. Up till now, no antihypertensive class has demonstrated a superiority over the others. Only the blood pressure fall magnitude is important to prevent cardiovascular complications.