title: Effect of fixed-dose losartan/hydrochlorothiazide on brain natriuretic peptide in patients with hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Losartan/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (Preminent®) is a fixed-dose combination of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and the thiazide diuretic HCTZ that has consistently been shown to be more effective than either losartan or HCTZ. Little is known about the relationship between losartan/HCTZ and blood levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, 44 patients with hypertension who were being treated with ARB were enrolled. The ARB was changed to losartan/HCTZ because of uncontrolled hypertension. Blood pressure (BP), pulse rate (PR), plasma levels of BNP and other biochemical parameters were analyzed at baseline and 6 and 12 months after the change from ARB. Of the total 44 patients, 33 (75%) achieved the target BP at 12 months. While there was no significant change in PR, systolic and diastolic BP were significantly reduced (-23 ± 3 mmHg and -10 ± 2 mmHg, respectively) during this period. Although there were no significant changes in biochemical parameters, plasma levels of BNP were significantly decreased, especially in patients who had higher levels of BNP at baseline, during this period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Losartan/HCTZ therapy significantly reduced not only BP but also plasma levels of BNP in patients with hypertension. These findings suggest that losartan/HCTZ might have cardioprotective effects in patients with higher levels of BNP.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, Japan. miuras@cis.fukuoka-u.ac.jp
authors: Yuhei
authors: Y
authors: Shiga
authors: Shin-ichiro
authors: S
authors: Miura
authors: Ryoko
authors: R
authors: Mitsutake
authors: Yoshinari
authors: Y
authors: Uehara
authors: Asao
authors: A
authors: Inoue
authors: Keijiro
authors: K
authors: Saku
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003971:Diastole / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D019808:Losartan