title: Comparison of valsartan and amlodipine on ambulatory and morning blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular events occur most frequently in the morning. We aimed to study the effects of monotherapy with the long-acting angiotensin II receptor blocker valsartan compared with the long-acting calcium antagonist amlodipine on ambulatory and morning blood pressure (BP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed ambulatory BP monitoring before and after once-daily dose of valsartan (valsartan group, n = 38) and amlodipine (amlodipine group, n = 38) therapy in 76 hypertensive patients. To achieve the target BP of < or =140/90 mm Hg, valsartan was titrated from 40 mg/day to 160 mg/day (mean dose 124 mg/day) and amlodipine was titrated from 2.5 mg/day to 10 mg/day (mean dose 6.4 mg/day).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both drugs significantly reduced clinic and 24-h systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) (P <.002). However, the antihypertensive effect of amlodipine was superior to that of valsartan in clinical SBP (-26 mm Hg v -13 mm Hg, P =.001) and 24-h SBP (-14 mm Hg v -7 mm Hg, P =.008). In addition, morning SBP was significantly reduced by amlodipine from 156 to 142 mm Hg (P <.001) but not by valsartan. Both agents reduced lowest night SBP to a similar extent (amlodipine 121 to 112 mm Hg, P <.001; valsartan 123 to 114 mm Hg, P <.002). Reduction in morning SBP surge (morning SBP minus lowest night SBP) was significantly greater in patients treated with amlodipine compared with those treated with valsartan (-6.1 mm Hg v +4.5 mm Hg, P <.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amlodipine monotherapy was more effective than valsartan monotherapy in controlling 24-h ambulatory BP and morning BP in hypertensive patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Jichi Medical School, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Minamikawachi, Kawachi, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan. kazuo-eg@jichi.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: Kazuomi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kario
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hoshide
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoshide
authors.forename: Joji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morinari
authors.forename: Shizukiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D019454:Chronotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D013777:Tetrazoles; D017311:Amlodipine; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine