title: [Chronic effects of spironolactone in conjunction with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril on circulating procollagen marker P III NP and vascular resistance in patients with essential hypertension].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Disturbances of the synthesis and breakdown of the extracellular matrix of arterial walls have emerged as key features of the atherosclerotic process. We observed the changes of circulating procollagen marker for type III collagen turnover rate, the N-terminal propeptide P III NP and vascular resistance in hypertensive patients treated with various antihypertensive regimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 130 light to moderate hypertensive patients were randomly assigned to receive enalapril (group B, n = 43), enalapril + spirolactone (20 mg/d, group A, n = 44) and anti-hypertensive drugs not directly affecting RAAS (calcium antagonist, beta-blocker, group C, n = 43) for 1 year. Target blood pressure is < 130/80 mm Hg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Target blood pressure was reached in all treated patients and was similar among various groups. Under the same blood pressure controlling precondition, serum P III NP were similar at baseline among various groups and remained unchanged in group B [(3.4 +/- 0.3) microg/L vs. (3.7 +/- 0.3) microg/L, P > 0.05] and significantly decreased in group A [(2.3 +/- 0.2) microg/L vs. (3.8 +/- 0.2) microg/L, P < 0.05] while significantly increased in group C [(3.9 +/- 2.0) microg/L vs. (3.2 +/- 1.5) microg/L, P < 0.05]. Vascular resistance was similar among groups before therapy and all significantly decreased after 1 year antihypertensive therapy and the decrease was more significant in group A [(1064.3 +/- 158.6) dyn.s(-1).cm(-5)] than that in group B [(1200.8 +/- 298.7) dyn.s(-1).cm(-5)] and group C [(1205.1 +/- 206.4) dyn.s(-1).cm(-5)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spironolactone in conjunction with enalapril is a more favorable antihypertensive regimen in decreasing P III NP and improving vascular resistance than enalapril alone or antihypertensive drug regimens not directly affecting RAAS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Yi-hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Ying-qi
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lu-yue
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Gai
authors.forename: Ting-shu
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tian-de
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014655:Vascular Resistance
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D011347:Procollagen; D013148:Spironolactone; D004656:Enalapril