title: Efficacy and safety of valsartan plus hydroclorothiazide for high blood pressure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate efficacy and tolerability of the combination valsartan plus hydrochlorothiazide (160 mg and 25 mg daily, respectively) in young-middle aged males with high-normal blood pressure (BP) or first-degree arterial hypertension with evidence of target organ damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty males with high-normal BP or first-degree hypertension associated with left ventricular concentric remodeling and/or increased aortic stiffness were enrolled. BP at rest and during exercise, and echocardiographic parameters of the left ventricle (LV), were evaluated at baseline and after 3 mo of treatment. The effects of treatment on aortic stiffness, metabolic parameters, renal and erectile function were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BP was significantly reduced by treatment both at rest (P < 0.001) and during exercise (P < 0.001), and 85% of patients achieved BP normalization (< 130/85 mmHg). Doppler echocardiography showed a significant reduction of LV mass (P < 0.005). LV hypertrophy was identified in 70% of subjects at baseline and in 5% after 3 mo of treatment. The ratio of early (E) to late (A) trans-mitral diastolic flow velocity increased, (P < 0.05), the relative wall thickness decreased (P < 0.05) and the left ventricular relaxation time shortened (P < 0.005). The left atrial diameter (P < 0.05) and the aortic diameter (P < 0.05) and stiffness (P < 0.005) also decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The full-dose combination of valsartan plus hydrochlorothiazide produced optimal BP control with regression of target organ damage, already after 3 mo, without relevant side effects.
authors.affiliation: Antonio Ruvolo, Valentina Mercurio, Valeria Fazio, Guido Carlomagno, Teresa Russo, Flora Affuso, Serafino Fazio, Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Immunologic Sciences, University of Naples Federico II School of Medicine, Via S. Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruvolo
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mercurio
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carlomagno
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Affuso
authors.forename: Serafino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fazio