Argano et al baseline and after treatment changes were compared by the Kruskall-Wallis test used as a non-parametric al- ternative to the one way ANOVA. Pairwise comparisons between groups were performed using the Conover-In- man method when the Kruskall-Wallis indicated a sig- nificance among groups. RESULTS No significant differences in baseline age, BMI, SBP, DBP, MBP, routine biochemical measurements and echocardiographic measurements were observed for the losartan, ramipril and combination groups (Tabs. I, II). Significant (p<0.05) decrease in SBP, DBP, MBP, total and indexed LVM values were observed in all the groups at the end of treatment compared to baseline values. In all groups no significant changes in biochemical mea- surements and in the remaining echocardiographic pa- rameters were found at the end of treatment (Tabs. I, II). Figure 2 shows the responses of LVM/h2.7 values of in- dividuals to the three treatments. In the combination therapy group a significant in- crease in the absolute reduction of LVM/h2.7 (p< 0.05 vs losartan; p< 0.001 vs ramipril) was found. The percent reduction in LVM/h (p< 0.05 vs losartan; p< 0.03 vs TABLE II - EFFECTS OF TREATMENTS ON ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS Baseline Treatment Baseline Treatment Baseline Treatment Losartan 19 0.48 ± 3.9 10.2 ±.1.3 09.8 ± 1.6 00.41 ± 0.05 174 ± 46 047 ± 14 65 ± 4 1.12 ± 0.8 212 ± 41 097 ± 23 45.5 ± 4.1 .9.8 ±1.2 09.4 ±.1.6 00.41 ± 0.06 .151 ± 42* 0.41 ± 12* 65 ± 4 01.3 ± 0.6 196 ± 33 089 ± 20 Ramipril 19 Combined 19 46.8 ± 4.1 11.5 ± 1.1 10.5 ± 1.4 00.45 ± 0.07 183 ± 31 049 ± 10 62 ± 5 0.98 ± 0.5 225 ± 50 100 ± 23 45.6 ± 4.4 11.2 ± 1.1 09.5 ± 1.5 00.42 ± 0.08 0155 ± 34* 041 ± 9* 62 ± 3 01.1 ± 0.4 210 ± 32 089 ± 16 47.6 ± 3.6 43.2 ± 2.8 11.2 ± 1.6 0.11 ± 1.8 10.4 ± 1.3 09.4 ±.1.3 00.44 ± 0.06 00.44 ± 0.08 188 ± 41 .139 ± 29* 052 ± 16 0.39 ± 13* 63 ± 5 64 ± 4 1.02 ± 0.6 1.43 ± 0.3 222 ± 47 189 ± 21 102 ± 23 087 ± 12 Cases LVIDd (mm) IVSTd (mm) PWTd (mm) RWT [(PWTd / LVIDd)x2] LVM (g) LVM/h2.7 (g/m2.7) LVEF (%) E/A velocity ratio DTE (ms) IVRT (ms) ∆ LVM/h2.7 (g/m2.7) ∆ LVM/h2.7 (%) ∆ SBP (mmHg) ∆ SBP (%) ∆ DBP (mmHg) ∆ DBP (%) ∆ MBP (mmHg) ∆ MBP (%) LVIDd: Left ventricular internal diastolic diameter. IVSTd: Interventricular septum thickness diastolic. PWTd: Posterior wall thickness. RWT: relative wall thickness. LVEF: Left ventricular ejection fraction. LVM: left ventricular mass. LVM/h2.7: left ventricular mass normalized to height 2.7. E/A: velocity ratio: peak early transmitral flow velocity (E), peak late transmitral flow velocity (A) ratio. DTE: E deceleration time. IVRT: isovolumic relaxation time. *p< 0.05 vs baseline TABLE III - ABSOLUTE AND PERCENT REDUCTION (∆ ) LEFT VENTRICULAR MASS AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE THREE GROUPS Losartan n 19 6.4 ± 5 .14 ± 9 .29 ± 9 .18 ± 5 .14 ± 9 0.14 ± 11 .16 ± 8 .14 ± 7 Ramipril n 19 ..8.5 ± 8.5 016 ± 16 025 ± 12 16 ± 7 017 ± 11 018 ± 10 18 ± 9 15 ± 7 Combined n 19 0.14 ± 7‡§ 00.24 ± 15‡§ 030 ± 11 19 ± 6 017 ± 12 017 ± 12 021 ± 11 18 ± 8 LVM/h2.7: left ventricular mass normalized to height2.7. SBP: Systolic blood pressure. DBP: Diastolic blood pressure. MBP: Mean blood pressure. Kruskall-Wallis test: ‡ p < 0.05 vs Losartan § p < 0.03 vs Ramipril 43