title: Comparative efficacy of valsartan and olmesartan in mild-to-moderate hypertension: results of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
abstract: The aim of this prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint (PROBE) study was to compare the antihypertensive efficacy of 2 angiotensin II (AII) receptor antagonists with different pharmacologic profiles, valsartan and olmesartan, in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. After an initial 2-week washout period, 114 patients (64 men, 50 women; aged 35-70 years) were randomly assigned to receive valsartan 160 mg or olmesartan 20 mg once daily for 8 weeks. After the washout period and after 2 and 8 weeks of treatment, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed using a noninvasive device, and casual blood pressure (BP) and heart rate were measured. Both olmesartan and valsartan had a clear-cut antihypertensive effect. However, significantly earlier and more pronounced antihypertensive activity was achieved with valsartan than with olmesartan, as demonstrated by (1) significantly lower 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime ABPM values after 2 weeks with valsartan (P<.01); (2) significantly lower percentage of abnormal BP readings with valsartan; (3) significantly higher trough-peak ratio and smoothness index with valsartan, suggesting a more prolonged and homogeneous antihypertensive effect; and (4) lower 24-hour postdose clinic systolic and diastolic BP values versus olmesartan. These findings show that pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic differences between AII receptor antagonists, at clinically comparable dosages, may be associated with differences in antihypertensive efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Medicina Interna, Centro per la Diagnosi e Cura dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, Ospedale Arnaboldi, Via Emilia, 354, 27043 Broni, PV, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Destro
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scabrosetti
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanasia
authors.forename: Amedeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mugellini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068557:Olmesartan Medoxomil; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D007093:Imidazoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000068557:Olmesartan Medoxomil; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine