The TEAM trial investigated the effectiveness and tolerance of a fixed combination of the ACE inhibitor and calcium channel blocker (2 mg trandolapril and 180 mg verapamil retard) (preparation Tarka) in an open multicentre prospective study of treatment of moderately severe hypertension (diastolic pressure at the end of the two-week wash-out period 100-115 mm Hg). The trial comprised 163 patients who were treated first for four weeks by a monotherapy with 2 mg trandolapril. After these four weeks patients who attained normal blood pressure proceeded with trandolapril treatment. Hypertensive patients who did not attain normal diastolic pressure levels were treated for another four weeks by a fixed combination of trandolapril and verapamil SR. After four weeks of treatment with trandolapril 62 patients of 163 (37%) had a diastolic blood pressure of less than 90 mm Hg. The fixed combination of trandolapril and verapamil SR reduced the diastolic blood pressure to less than 90 mm Hg in 71.6% of the patients resistant to treatment with 2 mg trandolapril and in another 15.6% of patients it reduced the diastolic blood pressure by 10 mm Hg or more. After two months of treatment 60 patients had a normal blood pressure due to trandolapril (37%) and another 73 patients (45%) treated by a combination of trandolapril and verapamil SR, i.e. a total of 133 patients (82%) who originally suffered from moderately severe hypertension, attained a normal diastolic blood pressure. The mean decrease of diastolic pressure after two months of treatment was 19.5 mm Hg in "non-respondents" to trandolapril monotherapy and 23.6 mm Hg in "respondents". The mean decrease of systolic pressure in "non-respondents" and "respondents" after trandolapril treatment was 19.5 mm Hg and 35.0 mm Hg resp. The fixed combination of trandolapril and verapamil was not only effective but was associated with a minimum of undesirable effects. The incidence of headaches declined significantly. The combination of the above preparations is useful also because both preparations have a cardio- and nephroprotective effect and do not affect the lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Treatment with a fixed combination of trandolapril and verapamil SR is indicated in moderately severe hypertension not responding to monotherapy, in particular when associated with diabetes, hyperlipoproteinaemia, ischaemic heart disease or left ventricular hypertrophy.

Keywords: Adult; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors /administration & dosage/; Antihypertensive Agents /administration & dosage/; Blood Pressure /drug effects/; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Hypertension /drug therapy/; Indoles /administration & dosage/; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Verapamil /administration & dosage/