Effect of high-dose valsartan on inflammatory and lipid parameters in patients with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to explore the impact of the angiotensin type 1 receptor blocker valsartan (VAL) on inflammatory-/lipid-/glucose parameters in hypertensive diabetic patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD).


METHODS
This was a 16-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled two-center study with VAL 320 mg/d in 109 hypertensive diabetic patients (n=56 non-CAD; n=53 CAD).


RESULTS
VAL treatment did not significantly affect serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) levels in the overall study population but significantly reduced serum IL-6 in the subgroup with high inflammatory load at baseline (IL-6>median (2.0 ng/L), n=54: [median, ng/L]): VAL: from 3.5 to 2.4; placebo: from 3.2 to 3.5; p=0.035). VAL significantly lowered total- and LDL-cholesterol in the whole study population: [median, mg/dL]: total cholesterol: VAL: from 178 to 168; placebo: from 174 to 173, p=0.039; LDL-cholesterol: VAL: from 96 to 90, placebo: from 102 to 103, p=0.006, whereas glycemic parameters were not affected.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory efficacy of VAL in hypertensive diabetic patients with enhanced inflammatory burden. High-dose VAL therapy significantly lowered total- and LDL-cholesterol levels. The combined actions of cholesterol and blood pressure lowering by VAL may provide additional clinical benefits for these high-risk patients.
Center for Cardiovascular Research, Institute of Pharmacology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany. ulrich.kintscher@charite.de
Ulrich
U
Kintscher
Nikolaus
N
Marx
Peter
P
Martus
Martina
M
Stoppelhaar
Julia
J
Schimkus
Anna
A
Schneider
Daniel
D
Walcher
Andreas
A
Kümmel
Robin
R
Winkler
Kai
K
Kappert
Yvonne
Y
Dörffel
Jürgen
J
Scholze
Thomas
T
Unger
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008055:Lipids; D013777:Tetrazoles; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068756:Valsartan; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D014633:Valine