title: Effect of combination tablets containing amlodipine 10 mg and irbesartan 100 mg on blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and mortality. Patients who receive insufficient doses of antihypertensive agents or who are poorly adherent to multidrug treatment regimens often fail to achieve adequate blood pressure (BP) control. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and calcium channel blocker (CCB) combination tablet containing a regular dose of irbesartan (100 mg) and a high dose of amlodipine (10 mg) with regard to lowering BP and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated data from 68 patients with essential hypertension whose treatment regimen was changed either from combination treatment with an independent ARB and a low-dose or regular-dose CCB or from a combination tablet of ARB and a low-dose or regular-dose CCB to a combination tablet containing amlodipine 10 mg and irbesartan 100 mg, because of incomplete BP control. Previous treatments did not include irbesartan as the ARB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combination tablet decreased systolic and diastolic BP. In addition, it significantly decreased serum uric acid, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, independent of the BP-lowering effect. Treatment with the combination tablet did not affect serum triglycerides, plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, serum potassium or creatinine levels, or the urinary albumin excretion rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination tablet containing amlodipine 10 mg and irbesartan 100 mg had a greater BP-lowering effect than an ARB and a low-dose or regular-dose CCB. In addition, the combination tablet had more favorable effects on serum uric acid, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in patients with hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Shusuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takashima
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Shikoku Central Hospital, Shikokuchuo, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitsugi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Shikoku Central Hospital, Shikokuchuo, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hotchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken-Ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Diabetes Medicine, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Daiju
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ise
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tobiume
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwase
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soeki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuzo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakatsuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Diabetes Medicine, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimabukuro
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akaike
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
keywords: blood pressure; combination tablet; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; uric acid