The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7190 p385-391
23 March 2002

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Ramipril prevents stroke

Data showing that ramipril reduces the incidence of stroke in high-risk patients are published in the BMJ this week (2002;324:699).

The results come from the heart outcomes prevention evaluation (HOPE) study, previously presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress (PJ, 4 September 1999, p338). The study shows that the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor reduces the incidence of strokes in patients with normal blood pressure by 32 per cent (3.4 per cent of patients taking ramipril had either a fatal or non-fatal stroke compared with 4.9 per cent of patients taking placebo).