Short-term effects of cilazapril and atenolol on P-wave dispersion in patients with hypertension.
BACKGROUND
P-wave dispersion (PWD) has been shown to be a non-invasive electrocardiographic predictor for development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Thus, it may be possible to decrease AF risk through improvement in PWD. Our objective was to compare the effects of cilazapril and atenolol on P-wave duration and dispersion in patients with hypertension.


METHODS
A total of 38 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with either cilazapril (5 mg) or atenolol (50 mg). Doppler echocardiographic examination, P-wave durations and PWD were measured before and 1 mo after treatment


RESULTS
Both drugs reduced blood pressure significantly (P<0.001). Posttreatment heart rate was significantly lower in the atenolol group (P=0.01). The change in maximum P-wave duration was not significant. However, both agents decreased PWD (P=0.001 and P<0.001) and increased the minimum P-wave duration (P=0.004 and P=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Both cilazapril and atenolol treatments resulted in improvement in PWD.
Tuncer
Mustafa
M
Faculty of Medicine, Cardiology Department, Yuzunci Yil University, Van, Turkey. drmtuncer66@yahoo.com
Gunes
Yilmaz
Y
Guntekin
Unal
U
Gumrukcuoglu
Hasan Ali
HA
Eryonucu
Beyhan
B
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017315:Cilazapril / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D017315:Cilazapril; D001262:Atenolol