Candesartan- and atenolol-based treatments induce different patterns of carotid artery and left ventricular remodeling in hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)-based treatment reduces cardiovascular events and stroke more than does beta-blocker-based treatment despite similar blood pressure (BP) reduction. We investigated whether these treatments have different effects on cardiac and large-artery remodelling and evaluated the relation of arterial remodelling to hemodynamic changes in subjects with hypertension.


METHODS
We compared the treatment effects of an ARB (candesartan cilexetil)-based regimen and a beta-blocker (atenolol)-based regimen for 52 weeks on common carotid artery (CCA) and left ventricular structure in hypertensive patients in a randomized, double-blind study. Clinic brachial BP and 24-hour ambulatory BP, carotid BP, left ventricular mass index, CCA intima-media thickness, lumen diameter, intima-media area, and carotid blood flow were measured. Distensibility, circumferential tensile stress, Young's elastic modulus (E(m)), and shear stress (tau) in the CCA were also calculated.


RESULTS
Both candesartan and atenolol reduced intima-media thickness and intima-media area and increased distensibility to similar extents after 52 weeks of treatment. Despite similar reductions in BP, treatment with atenolol resulted in a lesser reduction in left ventricular mass index, a decrease in lumen diameter, and a reduction in carotid blood flow compared with candesartan.


CONCLUSIONS
BP-independent effects of ARB on cardiac and arterial structure may contribute to the beneficial effects of these agents on cardiovascular disease.
Ariff
Ben
B
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, International Centre for Circulatory Health, National Heart and Lung Division, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, England. b.ariff@imperial.ac.uk
Zambanini
Andrew
A
Vamadeva
Sarita
S
Barratt
Dean
D
Xu
Yun
Y
Sever
Peter
P
Stanton
Alice
A
Hughes
Alun
A
Thom
Simon
S
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003187:Compliance; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D013777:Tetrazoles; D001262:Atenolol; C081643:candesartan