Effect of perindopril on pulse-wave velocity and endothelin-1 in black hypertensive patients.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the effect of perindopril on pulse-wave velocity (as indicator of arterial elasticity) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in black hypertensive patients.


METHODS
Forty-four newly diagnosed hypertensive patients who received 4 mg perindopril daily were monitored for nine months. Pulse-wave velocity (PWV) was measured noninvasively along the carotid-femoral arterial segment (high elastic content) and the brachial-ulnar segment (low elastic content).


RESULTS
There was a significant increase in arterial elasticity, as indicated by a slower PWV in the carotid-femoral segment of the treatment group, from 11.6 to 7.5 m/s after nine months. The PWV of the treatment group (7.5 m/s) after nine months was lower than that of the healthy volunteer group (8.2 m/s) but it was not statistically significant. No correlation between ET-1 and PWV could be found.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to its blood pressure-lowering effect, our study confirmed the improvement in arterial elasticity in patients on perindopril therapy, without involvement of ET-1.
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, MEDUNSA Campus, University of Limpopo, South Africa.
Elzbieta
E
Osuch
Willem J
WJ
Du Plooy
Sandra H
SH
Du Plooy
Linde H
LH
Böhmer
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020913:Perindopril / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D019332:Endothelin-1; D020913:Perindopril