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 candesartan versus enalapril in essential hypertension. Italian Candesartan Study Group.
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to compare the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of c and esartan cilexetil ( CC ) with that of enalapril ( E ) and placebo ( P ) in hypertensives by clinic and ambulatory blood pressure ( BP ) .  PROCEDURES The study was an Italian multicenter , r and omized , double-blind , parallel group trial including 227 mild to moderate essential hypertensives ( age range , 18 to 70 years ) . After 4 weeks of P , patients were r and omized to 8 weeks of treatment with P or CC ( 4 mg ) or E ( 10 mg ) once daily , which was eventually increased to 8 mg and 20 mg once daily in nonresponders . At the end of each study phase , trough BP was measured by conventional sphygmomanometry and ambulatory BP was monitored over 24 h by a Spacelabs device . Analysis of 24-h BP profile included calculation of 24-h , daytime , nighttime , and hourly average values . RESULTS In the 178 patients evaluable per protocol , at the end of 8 weeks of treatment , trough systolic ( S ) and diastolic ( D ) BP were similarly reduced by both active treatments ( 13 + /- 12 and 10 + /- 7 mm Hg for CC and 14 + /- 12 and 10 + /- 7 mm Hg for E ) and significantly more by both treatments than by P ( 6 + /- 11 and 7 + /- 8 mm Hg , P < .01 v CC and E ) . In the 85 patients with valid 24-h recordings reduction in 24-h BP was again similar for the two active groups . The antihypertensive effect was still evident during h 23 and 24 after the last dose for both active treatments ( 8 + /- 20 v 5 + /- 18 mm Hg for SBP and 4 + /- 12 v 6 + /- 13 mm Hg for DBP , CC v E , respectively ) but not for P. Heart rate was not significantly modified by either active treatment . The incidence of adverse events was greater in the E than in the CC group . CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence that CC at a dose of 4 to 8 mg is as effective as E at a dose of 10 to 20 mg over 24 h , but is better tolerated than
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 ) .