Reduction in arterial stiffness with angiotensin II antagonist is comparable with and additive to ACE inhibition.
We measured the effects of angiotensin II blockade on arterial stiffness, augmentation index (AI%), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and blood pressure (BP) in 12 hypertensive patients (mean 49 +/- 11 years) in a 4-week, randomized, cross-over study comparing valsartan 160 mg/day with captopril 100 mg/day, with a 2-week washout period. Subsequently both therapies were combined. Reductions in PWV and AI% remained significant when corrected for BP. Combined therapy reduced PWV and AI% (P < .05) more than monotherapy, even when corrected for BP. The study shows that angiotensin receptor antagonists reduce arterial stiffness in hypertension comparable with and possibly additive to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition.
Mahmud
Azra
A
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Trinity Centre and Hypertension Clinic. St. James's Hospital, Dublin. Ireland.
Feely
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002216:Captopril / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011674:Pulse; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068756:Valsartan
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000068756:Valsartan; D002216:Captopril; D014633:Valine