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(Hypertension. 2009;54:716.)
© 2009 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Articles

Differential Effects Between a Calcium Channel Blocker and a Diuretic When Used in Combination With Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker on Central Aortic Pressure in Hypertensive Patients

Yoshio Matsui; Kazuo Eguchi; Michael F. O'Rourke; Joji Ishikawa; Hiroshi Miyashita; Kazuyuki Shimada; Kazuomi Kario

From the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (Y.M., K.E., J.I., H.M., K.S., K.K.), Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan; University of New South Wales/St. Vincent’s Clinic (M.F.O.), Sydney, Australia.

Correspondence to Yoshio Matsui, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan. E-mail yoshio{at}jichi.ac.jp

The aim of this study was to compare the effects between calcium channel blockers and diuretics when used in combination with angiotensin II receptor blocker on aortic systolic blood pressure (BP) and brachial ambulatory systolic BP. We conducted a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded end point study in 207 hypertensive patients (mean age: 68.4 years). Patients received olmesartan monotherapy for 12 weeks, followed by additional use of azelnidipine (n=103) or hydrochlorothiazide (n=104) for 24 weeks after randomization. The central BP by radial artery tonometry, aortic pulse wave velocity, and ambulatory BP were assessed at baseline and 24 weeks later. After adjustment for baseline covariates, the extent of the reduction in central systolic BP in the olmesartan/azelnidipine group was significantly greater than that in the olmesartan/hydrochlorothiazide group (the between-group difference was 5.2 mm Hg; 95% CI: 0.3 to 10.2 mm Hg; P=0.039), whereas the difference in the reduction in brachial systolic BP between the groups was not significant (2.6 mm Hg; 95% CI: –2.2 to 7.5 mm Hg; P=0.29). The aortic pulse wave velocity showed a significantly greater reduction for the olmesartan/azelnidipine combination than for the olmesartan/hydrochlorothiazide combination (0.8 m/s; 95% CI: 0.5 to 1.1 m/s; P<0.001) after adjustment for covariates. The extent of the reduction in brachial ambulatory systolic BP was similar between the groups. These data showed that the combination of olmesartan (20.0 mg) and azelnidipine (16.0 mg) had a more beneficial effect on central systolic BP and arterial stiffness than the combination of olmesartan (20.0 mg) and hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg), despite the lack of a significant difference in brachial systolic BP reduction between the 2 treatments.

Key Words: angiotensin II receptor blocker • calcium channel blocker • thiazide diuretic • central blood pressure • pulse wave velocity • ambulatory blood pressure

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Central Blood Pressure Under Angiotensin and Calcium Channel Blockade

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				M. E. Safar, A. Protogerou, and J. Blacher Central Blood Pressure Under Angiotensin and Calcium Channel Blockade Hypertension, October 1, 2009; 54(4): 704 - 706. [Full Text] [PDF]