Are all antihypertensive drug classes equal in reducing left ventricular hypertrophy?
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a major cardiovascular risk factor for morbidity and mortality. It is caused by arterial hypertension, although various hemodynamic and nonhemodynamic factors contribute to its development. Especially, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is involved in the pathophysiology of LVH. The Treatment of Mild Hypertension study demonstrated that in mild essential hypertension, nonpharmacologic treatment is an effective tool for treating LVH. There are at least three major meta-analyses with several thousand patients examining the ability of antihypertensive drugs on the reversal of LVH. The results of these meta-analyses are very consistent. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers achieve significantly better results than b-blockers. The most recently published Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension study confirmed the superiority of angiotensin receptor blockers against b-blockers in a large-scale prospective trial. It also proves for the first time that regression of LVH is associated with better cardiovascular outcome.
Fleischmann
Erwin H
EH
Department of Internal Medicine 4/IV, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Breslauer Strasse 201, 90475 Nuremberg, Germany. roland.schmieder@rzmail.uni-erlangen.de
Schmieder
Roland E
RE
D000804:Angiotensin II; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000804:Angiotensin II