Endocan, a novel marker of endothelial dysfunction in patients with essential hypertension: comparative effects of amlodipine and valsartan.
Vascular inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of hypertension and high levels of endocan may reflect ongoing vascular inflammation in hypertensive patients. In the present hypothesis-generating study, we aimed at investigating the comparative effects of amlodipine and valsartan on endocan levels in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. The study population consisted of 37 untreated hypertensive patients who were randomized to the two treatment arms. After baseline assessment, each patient was randomly allocated to either 10 mg daily of amlodipine (n = 18, 7 males) or 160 mg daily of valsartan (n = 19, 3 males) and treated for a 3-month period. Sphygmomanometric blood pressure (BP) and serum endocan were measured before and every 2 weeks during drug treatment. There was no statistically significant difference between the two treatment arms as far as baseline socio-demographic and clinical characteristics are concerned. After a 3-month treatment period, systolic and diastolic BP values significantly reduced by antihypertensive treatment (p < 0.001). Furthermore, endocan levels were significantly decreased in both treatment arms (p < 0.05). However, amlodipine caused a greater percent decrease in circulating endocan levels compared with valsartan at the end of the treatment period. Both drugs reduced high sensitivity C-reactive protein values. However, the statistical significant difference vs baseline was achieved only in the group treated with amlodipine. No correlation was found between endocan plasma levels and BP reduction. The results of this hypothesis-generating study suggest that amlodipine and valsartan decrease endocan levels in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. The effects, which are more evident with amlodipine, may contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects exerted by the two drugs on the vascular target.
Department of Cardiology, Gulhane Medical Academy , Ankara , Turkey.
Turgay
T
Celık
Sevket
S
Balta
Murat
M
Karaman
Seyıt
S
Ahmet Ay
Saıt
S
Demırkol
Cengız
C
Ozturk
Mustafa
M
Dınc
Hılmı U
HU
Unal
M Ilker
MI
Yılmaz
Selım
S
Kılıc
Gulcan
G
Kurt
A
A
Tas
Atıla
A
Iyısoy
Fosca
F
Quartı-Trevano
Francesco
F
Fıcı
Guıdo
G
Grassı
D000328:Adult; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000075222:Essential Hypertension; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000097:blood*; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000068756:Valsartan
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; C101134:ESM1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D013777:Tetrazoles; D017311:Amlodipine; D000068756:Valsartan; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D014633:Valine
Amlodipine; endocan; endothelium; valsartan; vascular inflammation