RESULTS The global antihypertensive activity of ARB differs from that observed with amlodipine in the sense that the magnitude of the reduction in the BP values does not essentially depend on the initial BP values nor on the dose used .
When only ARB were considered , the drug used was a determinant for systolic BP reduction , whereas for diastolic BP the influence was on the BP reduction and the duration of the antihypertensive activity .
The dose used had a particular influence on the duration of the antihypertensive activity for both systolic and diastolic BP .
CONCLUSION Among the ARB , the influence is on duration more than on the magnitude of BP reduction .
Dose , therefore , is an important factor in the duration of antihypertensive activity
OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review of the antihypertensive activity of the angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonists ( ARB ) .
Comparison of the effects on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure of valsartan and amlodipine, alone or in combination with a low-dose diuretic, in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension (Val-syst Study)
Objective The aim of this study was to compare the time-effect profiles of a once-daily administration of valsartan and amlodipine , each given alone or in combination with hydrochlorothiazide , in terms of ambulatory blood pressure ( BP ) and heart rate in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension . Methods One hundred and sixty-four elderly out patients with systolic hypertension received valsartan 80 mg ( n=79 ) or amlodipine 5 mg ( n=85 ) once daily for eight weeks , after which the patients with poorly controlled office BP were up-titrated to valsartan 160 mg or amlodipine 10 mg once daily . If their office systolic BP was still > 140 mmHg after eight weeks at these doses , 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide was added for a further eight weeks . The hourly BP decreases in all of the patients were calculated on the basis of 24-h ambulatory recordings made after the placebo period and at the end of active treatment . The trough/peak ratio and smoothness index were calculated in the responders . Results Both the valsartan- and amlodipine-based treatments effectively lowered mean 24-h , daytime and night-time systolic ambulatory BP ( all p<0.001 ) without any significant differences between the two regimens . Ambulatory heart rate decreased in the subjects on valsartan and slightly increased in those on amlodipine ( the differences in 24-h and daytime heart rate were significant ( p=0.008 and 0.002 respectively ) . Among the 138 responders , the valsartan-based treatment had a greater anti-hypertensive effect during the daytime hours ( p=0.02 ) , a difference that was also significant for average 24-h BP ( p=0.02 ) . The mean systolic BP trough/peak ratio was 0.56 in the patients on valsartan , and 0.77 in those on amlodipine ( NS ) . The smoothness index was respectively 1.70 and 1.58 ( NS ) . Conclusions The present results show that both the valsartan- and amlodipine-based treatments lead to a similar long-term reduction in 24-h systolic BP . However , in treatment responders , valsartan has a greater anti-hypertensive effect during the daytime
RESULTS The global antihypertensive activity of ARB differs from that observed with amlodipine in the sense that the magnitude of the reduction in the BP values does not essentially depend on the initial BP values nor on the dose used .
When only ARB were considered , the drug used was a determinant for systolic BP reduction , whereas for diastolic BP the influence was on the BP reduction and the duration of the antihypertensive activity .
The dose used had a particular influence on the duration of the antihypertensive activity for both systolic and diastolic BP .
CONCLUSION Among the ARB , the influence is on duration more than on the magnitude of BP reduction .
Dose , therefore , is an important factor in the duration of antihypertensive activity
OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review of the antihypertensive activity of the angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonists ( ARB ) .