title: Long-term effects of a losartan- compared with an atenolol-based treatment regimen on carotid artery plaque development in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy: ICARUS, a LIFE substudy.
abstract: In the Losartan Intervention for Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension (LIFE) study, there was a 25% risk reduction for stroke with angiotensin receptor blocker-based therapy (losartan) as compared with beta-blocker-based therapy (atenolol) despite comparable blood pressure reductions. This substudy examines treatment effects on the amount and density of atherosclerotic lesions in the common carotid arteries and the carotid bulb in 81 patients during 3 years of treatment. There were no statistically significant changes in the amount of carotid plaque in patients treated with losartan compared with an atenolol-based treatment program. A statistically nonsignificant increase in plaque density and index (average of plaque amount and density) was seen in the atenolol group compared with those treated with losartan. The small number of patients evaluated may have limited the power to detect a difference in outcome. The difference in carotid plaque index increase between the treatment groups during 3 years of treatment could not be statistically linked to specific treatments in the present substudy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. eigil.fossum@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Eigil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fossum
authors.forename: Michael Hecht
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Aud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Høieggen
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wachtell
authors.forename: Henrik M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Reims
authors.forename: Sverre E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kjeldsen
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ibsen
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Stevo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Julius
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D001262:Atenolol; D019808:Losartan