title: Effects of Azelnidipine plus OlmesaRTAn versus amlodipine plus olmesartan on central blood pressure and left ventricular mass index: the AORTA study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the effects of olmesartan combined with either azelnidipine or amlodipine on central blood pressure (CBP) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with brachial systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg received olmesartan monotherapy (20 mg daily) for 12 weeks. The patients were then randomly assigned to fixed-dose add-on therapy with azelnidipine (16 mg daily) or amlodipine (5 mg daily) (25 patients/group) for a further 24 weeks. CBP and LVMI were measured at baseline and at the end of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. The decrease in brachial BP was similar in both groups. CBP and LVMI decreased significantly in both groups (both, P < 0.001). However, the decreases in CBP and LVMI were significantly greater with olmesartan/azelnidipine than with olmesartan/amlodipine (CBP, P < 0.001; LVMI, P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that olmesartan/azelnidipine had greater effects on CBP and LVMI than did olmesartan/amlodipine, even though the reduction in brachial BP was similar in both groups. These differential effects on CBP and LVMI may have important implications for cardiovascular risk reduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Clinic Jingumae, Kashihara, Japan. takami66@m5.kcn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takami
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017311:Amlodipine; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001383:Azetidinecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D007093:Imidazoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D017311:Amlodipine; D001383:Azetidinecarboxylic Acid; C437965:olmesartan; C061679:azelnidipine