title: Effects of combined therapy of Xuezhikang Capsule and Valsartan on hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy and heart rate turbulence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of combined therapy with Xuezhikang Capsule (XZK) and Valsartan on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) in hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety primary hypertensive patients with LVH were randomly assigned to three groups. Basic treatment, including aspirin, beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, etc. were administered to all patients. Additionally, Valsartan (VS, 80 mg once a day) was given to the 30 patients in the VS group. Valsartan (in the same dosage) and XZK (600 mg, twice a day) were given to the 32 patients in the Chinese medicine (CM) group, while none was given to the 28 patients in the control group. The therapeutic course lasted for 24 months. Changes in left ventricular mass index (LVMI) measured by cardiac ultrasonic indices, HRT parameters, including the original heart rate (TO) and slope coeffificient (TS), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP), as well as blood cholesterol level (TC) were measured before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, TO and LVMI were lowered, while TS increased in both the VS group and the CM group (P<0.01), but changed insignificantly in the control group. Significant differences between the CM group and the control group were shown in terms of TO, LVMI, SBP, DBP and TS (P<0.01); and between the CM group and the VS group in terms of TO, LVMI and TS (P<0.01). Moreover, HRT parameters showed an evident correlation with LVMI (r=0.519-0.635, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined therapy with XZK and Valsartan can improve hypertensive LVH and HRT parameters, and lessen the damage on the autonomous nervous system.
authors.affiliation: The Cardiovascular Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang (330006), China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Shao-lie
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jian-feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zhi-fang
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiao-jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002214:Capsules; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D055048:Integrative Medicine / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002214:Capsules; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D013777:Tetrazoles; C496822:xuezhikang; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine
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