title: Antihypertensive and metabolic effects of telmisartan in hypertensive HIV-positive patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is more prevalent among HIV-infected individuals than in the general population and contributes to increased cardiovascular risk. The angiotensin II receptor blocker telmisartan is also a partial peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ agonist with documented effects on glucose and lipid homeostasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antihypertensive and metabolic effects of telmisartan in hypertensive HIV-positive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 18 HIV-positive men treated with antiretroviral therapy and recently diagnosed with hypertension were administered 80 mg telmisartan daily. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), viroimmunological and metabolic parameters, insulin resistance, C-reactive protein, microalbuminuria, cystatin C and plasma levels of interleukin-18 and endothelin-1 were measured at baseline (T0), 1 month (T1), 3 months (T3) and 6 months (T6).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with telmisartan not only decreased SBP and DBP levels, but also improved insulin resistance and microalbuminuria by T1. Levels of triglycerides significantly decreased and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased at T1, whereas total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were statistically reduced at T3 and T6. Cystatin C and endothelin-1 showed a significant reduction at T1, whereas interleukin-18 decreased at both T3 and T6.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telmisartan was effective in reducing blood pressure and improving lipid metabolism and renal function. Reduction of endothelin-1 might be related to an endothelial protective effect. On the basis of these findings, and because of properties unrelated to blood pressure lowering, telmisartan might be the first choice antihypertensive drug for the treatment of HIV-positive patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, G d'Annunzio University School of Medicine, Chieti, Italy. jvecchiet@unich.it
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vecchiet
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ucciferri
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Falasca
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mancino
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Iorio
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Caterina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D055316:Cystatin C / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000819:agonists / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077333:Telmisartan; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001565:Benzoates; D055316:Cystatin C; D019332:Endothelin-1; D020382:Interleukin-18; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D047495:PPAR gamma; D014280:Triglycerides; D000077333:Telmisartan