title: Quinapril improves endothelial function in postmenopausal hypertensive patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypertension is one of the main cardiovascular risk factors, and it may be responsible for the excess morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women. Endothelium-dependent dilation of conduit arteries is reduced in women after menopause, as shown by the reduced flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in FMD during and following a 6-month-long treatment with increasing doses (10, 20 and 40 mg) of quinapril in hypertensive postmenopausal patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter, open-label, non-comparative, baseline control study in 61 postmenopausal outpatients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean baseline FMD (% +/- SD) of the 53 patients in the intent-to-treat population (patients with at least one FMD evaluation) was 2.83 +/- 1.24%; FMD of the 51 subjects on 10 mg quinapril daily was 5.58 +/- 2.179%; FMD of the 52 patients on 20 mg quinapril was 7.06 +/- 2.31%, and FMD of the 53 subjects on 40 mg daily was 8.07 +/- 2.57% (p < 0.001 for each dose, compared to baseline).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ourresults confirmed that quinapril improves endothelial function at all examined doses as measured by FMD. Modulation of the renin-angiotensin system may act as a target for reducing cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal hypertensive women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology, Szent Imre Teaching Hospital, Budapest, Hungary. katalin.farkas@sztimrehosp.hu
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.forename: Emília
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fábián
authors.forename: Lajos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nagy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D000077583:Quinapril; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000077583:Quinapril