Short-term effects of angiotensin receptor blockers on blood pressure control,and plasma inflammatory and fibrinolytic parameters in patients taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors

Abstract

Introduction. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduce cardiovascular events in patients with established vascular disease and heart failure (HF). ACE-inhibitors have important effects on fibrinolytic balance, which may be the underlying mechanism for a reduction in cardiovascular events.Although angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) offer greater tolerability than ACE-inhibitors, the major ARB trials have demonstrated a lack of reduction in myocardial infarction (MI) occurrence and mortality in contrast to ACE-inhibitors. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of ARBs and ACE-inhibitors on fibrinolytic and inflammatory parameters in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Methods. Twenty-four patients with uncontrolled hypertension despite taking adequate doses of ACE-inhibitor therapy were selected. Patients were started on Candesartan 16 mg once a day. Plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) antigen (Ag), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) Ag, thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) % activity and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, were measured during low salt intake at baseline and two weeks after therapy with an ARB.

Results. Addition of ARB to the regimen reduced systolic (155±17 R vs. 139±13, p<0.001), and diastolic (91±9 vs. 81±8, p<0.001) blood pressures (BP). No significant changes were observed in PAI-1 Ag (66±51 vs. 68±52, p=0.9), t-PAAg (12.6±5.3 vs. 13.3±4.7, p=0.3),TAFI % activity (119±30 vs. 118±32, p=0.9) and hsCRP (3.9±3.4 vs. 3.6±3.6, p=0.7) levels after adding an ARB.

Conclusions. Combined ARB and ACE-inhibitor use provide better BP control without any detrimental effect in plasma inflammatory and fibrinolytic parameters.