This is a factorial (2x2) randomized double-blinded clinical trial comparing the association of a thiazide diuretic (chlorthalidone 25 mg/day or hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg/day) with a potassium-sparing diuretic (amiloride 10 mg/day or amiloride 20 mg/day) as first drug option in patients aged 30 to 75 years with primary hypertension. The thiazide diuretic and amiloride will be combined in a single capsule. The capsules will be of the same size and color, so that neither the researcher nor the patients can distinguish the treatment by their appearance. The primary outcome will be the mean change from baseline in 24-h systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). The secondary outcomes will be the mean change from baseline in daytime and nighttime systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured by ABPM, mean change from baseline in systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured by office blood pressure, incidence of adverse events, variation of laboratory parameters and proportion of patients who achieved blood pressure control (\<140/90 mmHg and \<130/80 mmHg for office blood pressure and 24-h ABPM, respectively). The follow-up will last 12 weeks. For a P alpha of 0.05, power of 80%, and standard deviation of 9 mmHg, and absolute difference of 6 mmHg on systolic blood pressure on 24-h ABPM, it will be necessary to study a total of 76 patients. The sample size will be increased by 10% to compensate losses, resulting in 84 patients being randomized in total (42 for each arm).
