Beta blocker effects on plasma homocysteine levels in patients with hypertension.
Recent studies have shown that hyperhomocysteinemia might play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. The effects of antihypertensive agents on plasma homocysteine levels have not been tested extensively. We investigated the effects of beta-blocker therapy on homocysteine levels in patients with hypertension. In the study, 120 patients with newly diagnosed hypertension were enrolled. All patients received metoprolol succinate 100 mg/day initially. If blood pressure was above normal on the 15th day of follow-up, the metoprolol dosage was doubled. Before initiation of the antihypertensive medication and after the fourth month of treatment, homocysteine levels were measured. Of the 120 patients enrolled, 39 could not complete the study. Homocysteine levels decreased significantly by the end of the fourth month when compared with basal values (13.5+/-4.5 micromol/l versus 12.4+/-4.9 micromol/l; P = 0.001). There was no relation between homocysteine level and blood pressure control. There was a significant decrease in homocysteine levels in the women treated in this study (P = 0.001); however, this effect was absent in men (P = 0.185). We demonstrate that metoprolol succinate treatment significantly decreases plasma homocysteine levels in patients with hypertension, especially in women.
Atar
Ilyas
I
Başkent University, School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Bahçelievler, 06490 Ankara, Turkey. iatar@tkd.org.tr
Korkmaz
Mehmet Emin
ME
Demircan
Senol
S
Atar
Inci Asli
IA
Bozbaş
Hüseyin
H
Aydinalp
Alp
A
Ozin
Bülent
B
Yildirir
Aylin
A
Müderrisoğlu
Haldun
H
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D006710:Homocysteine; D008790:Metoprolol