Twelve scleroderma patients with hypertension, seven of whom had malignant hypertension and renal failure or scleroderma renal crisis, were treated with captopril. The first dose lowered mean pressure in all patients by 21.3 mmHg; in 6 patients it relieved encephalopathy . Blood pressure was controlled in all patients.Two of 7 patients with scleroderma renal crisis had improvement in renal function; the 5 patients who did not have malignant hypertension improved or stabilized. Despite good pressure control, however, renal failure developed in 5 patients with scleroderma renal crisis. The data indicated that captopril is effective antihypertensive therapy in scleroderma and, when given early, may prevent renal failure and death.Scleroderma is a disease in which deposition of collagen in skin and visceral organs is associated with

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