title: Central sympatholytic therapy has anti-inflammatory properties in hypertensive postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postmenopausal phase expresses many unfavourable physiological changes that lead to increased risk for cardiovascular disease. We compared the effect of two sympatholytic antihypertensive drug treatments, the centrally acting imidazoline receptor-1 agonist moxonidine and peripherally acting beta-blocking agent atenolol on sensitive inflammatory markers in overweight postmenopausal women with diastolic hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a multicentre, multinational double-blinded, prospective study comparing moxonidine (0.3 mg twice daily) with atenolol (50 mg once daily) in 87 hypertensive postmenopausal overweight women who were not taking hormone therapy. Sensitive C-reactive protein, IL-6, TNFalpha, TNFalpha-RII and adiponectin were determined in the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of medical treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TNFalpha increased in atenolol and decreased in moxonidine group (P = 0.0004 between the groups). Adiponectin concentration decreased dramatically in atenonol but did not change in moxonidine treatment group (P < 0.0001 between the groups). In logistic regression analysis only treatment group showed an independent effect on changes in adiponectin and TNFalpha concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that centrally acting sympatholytic agent moxonidine is beneficial in the treatment of postmenopausal women with hypertension by reducing inflammatory cytokine TNFalpha without changing protective adiponectin level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Maritta K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Pöyhönen-Alho
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manhem
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katzman
authors.forename: Aleksandras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kibarskis
authors.forename: Riitta L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Antikainen
authors.forename: Risto U
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Erkkola
authors.forename: Jaakko O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Tuomilehto
authors.forename: Pertti E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ebeling
authors.forename: Risto J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kaaja
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008097:Lithuania; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000097:blood; D013548:Sweden; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D015850:Interleukin-6; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001262:Atenolol; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C043482:moxonidine