The short-term effects of administration of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, quinapril hydrochloride (quinapril) (5-10 mg/day), for 12 weeks on blood pressure and renal function were evaluated in 8 patients (60.5 +/- 7.3 years old, mean +/- SD) with mild to moderate essential hypertension and mild impairment of renal function due to nephrosclerosis. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were significantly reduced from 163.0 +/- 4.0 to 132.3 +/- 17.6 mmHg (p < 0.01) and from 98.3 +/- 4.6 to 81.5 +/- 6.4 mmHg (p < 0.001), respectively, before to after treatment. Both renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were significantly increased in all patients, from 203.9 +/- 33.3 to 245.4 +/- 36.7 ml/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.01), and from 43.4 +/- 6.4 to 53.5 +/- 4.6 ml/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.05), respectively. Short-term quinapril administration was beneficial to renal function in patients with essential hypertension and impaired renal function.