title: Long-term effects of losartan on blood pressure and left ventricular structure in essential hypertension.
abstract: In a 12-week, randomized, double-blind study, 24 patients with essential hypertension were given the angiotensin II antagonist losartan, or the beta-adrenoceptor blocker atenolol. Both drugs reduced blood pressure (BP) well, but losartan tended to reduce left ventricular mass (LVM) in contrast to atenolol. Following the double-blind phase 19 patients entered an open treatment period with losartan and additional treatment if BP was uncontrolled. LV structures were measured by echocardiography. The mean follow-up period was 29 +/- 2.6 (range 26-32) months. BP was reduced from 155.6 +/- 15.6/103.4 +/- 5.2 mm Hg to 131.3 +/- 10.5/82.7 +/- 3.3 mm Hg (P < 0.001). LV internal diameter was reduced (50.7 +/- 4.5 to 49.1 +/- 4.0 mm; P = 0.006), while there was an increase in interventricular septal thickness (10.2 +/- 1.1 to 11.2 +/- 1.3 mm; P = 0.001) and posterior wall thickness (10.0 +/- 0.9 to 10.6 +/- 1.1 mm; P = 0.023). Calculated LVM was not significantly altered during the follow-up period. In conclusion, losartan is effective in reducing BP during long-term treatment. No significant effect on LVM was observed, but there was an increase in LV wall thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Ostra University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Himmelmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergbrant
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hansson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019808:Losartan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D007093:Imidazoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D019808:Losartan