title: A comparison study of the echocardiographic changes in hypertensive patients treated with telmisartan vs. enalapril.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension-induced cardiac dysfunction is variable among different anti-hypertensive medications. This study compares the effects of telmisartan and enalapril on echocardiographic parameters in hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomised single blinded study. Eighty hypertensive patients were included in this study and they were randomly allocated into two study groups: Group 1 included 40 patients who took telmisartan 80mg once daily for six months. Group 2 included 40 patients who took enalapril, 20mg once daily for six months. An additional 40 healthy participants were enrolled in the study as controls (Group 3). Baseline echocardiographic scan was done at the start of the study and after 6 months of treatment including assessment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions with assessment of left ventricular mass index, in addition to measurements of blood pressure, heart rate and double product.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both group 1 and group 2 (telmisartan and enalapril groups respectively) showed comparable statistically significant improvement in the diastolic functional parameters (P<0.010), while both medications didn't demonstrate changes in the systolic functional parameters. Furthermore, telmisartan was significantly effective in reducing the interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular mass index (P<0.010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both drugs interfere with renin-angiotensin aldosterone system, protecting the myocardium from high blood pressure. Findings from our study provide key results for physicians in deciding the appropriate antihypertensive drug for each patient depending based on the patient's intolerability for either medication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Kufa, Iraq. Electronic address: drnajahhadi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Najah R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Hadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Kufa, Iraq.
authors.forename: Mohammad S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Abdulzahra
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq.
authors.forename: Laith M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Al-Huseini
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, TAS, 7001, Australia.
authors.forename: Hayder A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Al-Aubaidy
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D000077333:Telmisartan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001565:Benzoates; D004656:Enalapril; D000077333:Telmisartan
keywords: Echocardiography; Enalapril; Hypertension; Left ventricular hypertrophy; Telmisartan