THE FORTISSIMO PROGRAM: ADVANTAGES OF FIXED FULL DOSE COMBINATION OF PERINDOPRIL ARGININE AND INDAPAMIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF POORLY CONTROLLED ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION
In the Russian program FORTISSIMO administration of fixed combination of perindopril arginine/indapamide (10 mg/2.5 mg) in 2120 patients with poorly controlled arterial hypertension instead of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or β-receptor antagonists (ARB) with hydrochlorothiazide given separately or in fixed combinations resulted in significant lowering of arterial pressure (AP) and achievement of its target level in 84% of patients. Mean AP was lowered from 177/99 to 130/80 mm Hg in 3 months while substantial reduction down to 149/89 mm Hg occurred just after 2 weeks of treatment. Improvement of compliance to therapy was also noted. Fixed perindopril/indapamide combination was well tolerated and turned out to be effective for AP control irrespective of previously conducted therapy (ACEI or ARB with diuretic).