Comparison of valsartan and benazepril when combined with atorvastatin in protecting patients with early cardio-renal syndrome (CRS).
OBJECTIVE
The aims to investigate the different protective effects of valsartan and benazepril when combined with atorvastatin in the cardio-renal functions of cardio-renal syndrome (CRS) patients.


METHODS
A total of 200 early CRS patients were enrolled in the present study, including 104 males and 96 females, with an average age of 62.2 ± 7.7 years. The same group of patients were set as the control group prior to treatment, and then randomly divided into two groups; the A group was treated with valsartan (80 mg/d) and atorvastatin (20 mg/d); the B group was treated with benazepril (10 mg/d) and atorvastatin (20 mg/d). The treatment period was 24 months.


RESULTS
The clinical efficacy and clinical events were observed and the following parameters of each patient were measured before and after treatment: 24h urine protein; creatinine clearance; serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP); high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP); blood lipid level; liver function and ejection fraction (EF) value. Compared with the control group, the clinical symptoms of the treatment groups were improved with decreased blood lipid levels, significantly decreased serum BNP and hsCRP levels and significantly increased EF values and creatinine clearance rates (p < 0.01). The differences between the two treatment groups were not statistically significant. The number of patients that stopped treatment due to the development of a cough was significantly higher in the B group than the A group (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
When combined with atorvastatin, both valsartan and benazepril effectively improved the cardio-renal functions of early CRS patients. There was no significant difference between the two treatments however, valsartan appeared to be better tolerated by patients.
Department of Vasculocardiology, Affiliated Puai Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China. dingfengpengcn@163.com.
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D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D059347:Cardio-Renal Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068756:Valsartan / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001552:Benzazepines; D008055:Lipids; D020011:Protective Agents; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D000068756:Valsartan; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin; C044946:benazepril