title: Angiotensin II antagonism and the heart: valsartan in left ventricular hypertrophy.
abstract: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) represents an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and normalization of left ventricular mass has become a desirable goal of antihypertensive treatment. In a randomized, double-blind study the angiotensin II (AT(1) receptor) antagonist valsartan (Diovan((R)); 80 mg/160 mg q.d.) was compared with the beta-blocker atenolol (50 mg/100 mg q.d.) over 8 months in predominantly previously untreated patients with essential hypertension and LVH. Sixty-nine patients were randomized, of whom 58 were evaluated with echocardiographic data. After 8 months of treatment in the atenolol group [n = 8 with additional hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)], initial blood pressure was reduced from 160/103 to 147/92 mm Hg (p < 0.0001), and in the valsartan group (n = 9 with additional HCTZ) blood pressure decreased from 163/101 to 146/90 mm Hg (p < 0.0001). Left ventricular mass index decreased from 127 to 117 g/m(2) in the atenolol group and from 127 to 106 g/m(2) in the valsartan group. Long-term treatment with valsartan resulted in a significant reduction of LVH in patients with essential hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University Witten/Herdecke, Wuppertal, Germany. thuermann@klinikum-wuppertal.de
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Thürmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D013777:Tetrazoles; D001262:Atenolol; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine