A double blind study to examine the safety and efficacy of different dosages of lercanidipine in normal weight and obese patients with hypertension

Inclusion Criteria:

• Body Mass Index (BMI): 18.0 - 24.9 or 30.0 - 39.9 kg/m2 (extremes included);
• Essential hypertension I or II WHO:
• 140 mmHg ≤ BPs ≤ 179 mmHg and BPd ≤ 109 mmHg at the end of the placebo run-in phase;

Exclusion Criteria:

• Secondary hypertension;
• Diabetes mellitus type 1, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus type 2, fasting blood glucose ≥ 160 mg/dl;
• Subjects keeping to a hypocaloric diet (except special diet for diabetics) to reduce body weight;
• History or presence of angioneurotic oedema;
• Subjects developing a hypertensive crisis during wash-out or placebo run-in period;