Home About us Contact | |||
Mild-to-moderate Hypertension (mild-to-moderate + hypertension)
Selected AbstractsMetabolic and haemodynamic effects of metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertensionDIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM, Issue 5 2001M. H. Uehara SUMMARY Background Since metformin improves insulin sensitivity, it has been indicated for patients with diabetes and hypertension, which are insulin-resistant conditions. In contrast to its well-known effects on carbohydrate metabolism, its potential for reducing blood pressure (BP) and its effect on leptin levels have been investigated less frequently. Patients and Methods A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was carried out with 26 overweight diabetic subjects with mild-to-moderate hypertension to assess the effects of metformin-induced glycaemic control on BP and metabolic parameters. After a 4-week placebo period, when BP was stabilized by calcium channel blockers, they received either metformin (MG) or placebo (PG) for 12 weeks. Results Neither group showed any change in weight throughout the study. Only metformin-treated patients reduced fasting plasma glucose (8.54 + 1.72 to 7.54 + 1.33 mmol/l, p <,0.05), although HbA1c had decreased in both groups (PG: 6.7±3.0 to 5.9±2.6%; MG: 5.3±1.5 to 4.6±0.9%; p <,0.05). The initial office mean BPs were similar and decreased at the end of the treatment period in both groups, reaching statistical significance only in MG (105.7±8.0 to 99.2±9.3 mmHg, p <,0.05). No difference was observed when comparing baseline and final values obtained by 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring. Metformin induced a reduction in both insulinaemia (71.0±62.4 to 38.0±23.0 pmol/l, p <,0.05) and the insulin resistance index (3.5±2.7 to 1.8±1.0, p <,0.05). The two groups had similar baseline leptin levels which remained unchanged after treatment (PG: 16.8±7.9 to 21.4±14.6 ,g/l; MG: 18.5±10.3 to 18.4±8.9 ,g/l). Dopamine levels increased significantly only in metformin-treated subjects. Conclusions Reductions in both the insulin levels and the resistance index reinforced metformin capacity to improve peripheral sensitivity. Moreover, such benefits were not accompanied by any hypotensive effects. Since leptin levels were affected neither by metformin per se nor by the induced insulinaemia reduction, our data support the role of body weight as the major determinant of circulating leptin levels. [source] Plasma renin and the antihypertensive effect of the orally active renin inhibitor aliskiren in clinical hypertensionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 9 2007J. Nussberger Summary Background:, Aliskiren is the first in a new class of orally effective renin inhibitors for the treatment of hypertension. Methods:, In 569 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension, blood pressure (BP), plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma renin concentration (PRC) were measured before and after 8 weeks of double-blind treatment with once-daily oral doses of aliskiren (150, 300 or 600 mg), irbesartan 150 mg or placebo. Results:, Aliskiren 150, 300 and 600 mg and irbesartan 150 mg significantly reduced mean cuff sitting systolic BP (SBP) from baseline (p < 0.001 vs. placebo). Aliskiren 150, 300 and 600 mg significantly reduced geometric mean PRA by 69%, 71% and 75% from baseline respectively (p < 0.05 vs. placebo). Irbesartan 150 mg significantly increased PRA by 109% (p < 0.05 vs. placebo). Aliskiren dose-dependently increased PRC from baseline by 157%, 246% and 497%, at 150, 300 and 600 mg respectively, compared with a 9% decrease with placebo (p < 0.05). PRC increased significantly more with aliskiren 300 and 600 mg compared with irbesartan 150 mg (105%; p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed no significant correlations between baseline PRA and changes in SBP in any of the treatment groups, but interestingly, the slopes of the regression lines between changes in SBP and log-transformed baseline PRA were +2.0 for placebo and ,1.5, ,1.8 and ,2.3 for aliskiren 150, 300 and 600 mg respectively. The slope for irbesartan 150 mg (,1.4) was similar to that for aliskiren 150 mg. Conclusions:, Aliskiren reduces SBP and PRA and increases PRC dose-dependently. In contrast, irbesartan reduces SBP but increases both PRC and PRA. As PRA is a measurement of angiotensin I-generating capacity, PRA can be used for measuring the ability of an antihypertensive agent to prevent the generation or action of Ang II, either directly (renin inhibitors, beta-blockers, central ,2 -agonists) or indirectly (AT1 -receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors). [source] The efficacy of telmisartan compared with perindopril in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertensionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2004I. Nalbantgi Summary In this study, efficacy of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker telmisartan given as monotherapy was compared with that of perindopril monotherapy in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension. After a 2-week, single-blind, placebo run-in period, 60 patients were randomised to double-blind, once-daily treatment with telmisartan 80 mg or perindopril 4 mg for 6 weeks. Clinic and ambulatory blood pressure measurements and clinical laboratory evaluation were performed at the end of the placebo run-in and active treatment phases. Both telmisartan and perindopril significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced clinic systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) compared with baseline values. Also, both drugs significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced 24-h mean ambulatory SBP and DBP compared with baseline. Comparison of the mean hourly antihypertensive activities showed that the reduction in mean ambulatory DBP for the last 8 h of the dosing interval was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in telmisartan-treated patients. A 24-h mean DBP of <85 mmHg was observed in 66.6% of the telmisartan-treated patients but in only 46.6% of the perindopril-treated patients (p < 0.05). It is concluded that telmisartan and perindopril both produce significant reductions in clinic SBP and DBP, but the mean reduction in ambulatory DBP during the last 8 h of the dosing interval is greater in patients treated with telmisartan. [source] |