Reduction of resistance artery stiffness by treatment with the AT1-receptor antagonist losartan in essential hypertension (original) (raw)

In spontaneously hypertensive rats resistance artery structure, endothelial dysfunction and geometry-independent wall stiffness were reduced by an angiotensin AT1-receptor antagonist. In previous studies of human hypertension, interruption of the renin-angiotensin system corrected small artery structure and endothelial dysfunction, whereas the β-blocker atenolol did not. We hypothesized that the AT1R antagonist losartan, but not the β-blocker atenolol, would reduce stiffness of gluteal subcutaneous small arteries in essential hypertensive patients. Seventeen untreated mild essential hypertensive patients (47±2years; 75% male) were randomly assigned in double-blind fashion to losartan or atenolol treatment for one year. Small, resistance size arteries were studied on pressurized myographs. Blood pressure (mmHg) was reduced (p<0.01) from 145±4/101±2 and 147±6/98±2 to 128±4/86±2 and 131±3/84±1 by losartan and atenolol, respectively.The media/lumen ratio of small arteries was unaffec...