title: [Comparative effects of nebivolol and valsartan on atrial electromechanical coupling in newly diagnosed stage 1 hypertensive patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypertension is an important cardiovascular risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Increased atrial electromechanical coupling time interval measured by tissue Doppler is accepted as an important factor for prediction of AF development in hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of valsartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, and nebivolol, a beta-blocker, on atrial electromechanical coupling in newly diagnosed stage 1 hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 60 newly diagnosed stage 1 hypertensive patients with no other systemic disease. The patients were randomized to receive nebivolol 5 mg (30 patients; 21 women, 9 men; mean age 48.4 ± 11.4 years) and valsartan 160 mg (30 patients; 21 women, 9 men; mean age 49.8 ± 11.3 years). All the patients underwent tissue Doppler echocardiographic examination before and three months after treatment to compare the effects of the two drugs on atrial electromechanical coupling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline blood pressures, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings, and atrial electromechanical coupling were similar in both groups (p>0.05). Both drugs significantly reduced blood pressure after treatment, with similar efficacy (p>0.05). Atrial electromechanical coupling time intervals showed significant decreases in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prolonged interatrial electromechanical time intervals in hypertensives are improved with antihypertensive treatment.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Medicine Faculty of Sütçü İmam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. baltun46@yahoo.com
authors: Burak
authors: B
authors: Altun
authors: Gürkan
authors: G
authors: Acar
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Akçay
authors: Abdullah
authors: A
authors: Sökmen
authors: Hakan
authors: H
authors: Kaya
authors: Sedat
authors: S
authors: Köroğlu
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068577:Nebivolol; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001578:Benzopyrans; D004983:Ethanolamines; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000068577:Nebivolol; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine