Effects of Eprosartan on Diastolic Function and Neurohormones in Patients with Hypertension and Diastolic Dysfunction
verfasst von:
Adriaan A. Voors, Ruud M. van de Wal, Jasper W. L Hartog, Richard G. Vijn, Yoran M. Hummel, Thijs W. M. Plokker, Dirk J. van Veldhuisen, Wybren Jaarsma
To compare the effects of an angiotensin receptor blocker(ARB)-based regimen versus a non-ARB based regimen on diastolic function and neurohormones in patients with hypertension and diastolic dysfunction.
Methods
97 patients with a systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg, a left ventricular ejection fraction >0.50, and echocardiographic evidence of diastolic dysfunction were randomly assignment to open-label treatment with eprosartan (with other anti-hypertensives; n = 47) or other anti-hypertensives alone (n = 50). Echocardiography, including tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), and neurohormones were done at baseline and after 6 months.
Results
Mean age was 65 (±10) years and 64% was female. During 6 months of treatment, SBP decreased from 157 ± 16 to 145 ± 18 mmHg in the eprosartan group and from 158 ± 17 to 141 ± 18 mmHg in the control group (both p < 0.001; p = ns between groups). Diastolic function was unaffected in both groups and there was no correlation between changes in SBP and changes in mean TDI (r = −0.06; p = 0.58). Aldosterone levels decreased in the eprosartan group, but other neurohormones remained largely unchanged. Change in SBP was however related to the change in NT-proBNP (r = 0.26; p = 0.019).
Conclusion
Lowering blood pressure, either with eprosartan or other anti-hypertensives in hypertensive patients with diastolic dysfunction did not change diastolic function after 6 months of treatment, but was associated with a decrease of NT-proBNP.
1 Introduction
Long-term hypertension is often accompanied by an impaired relaxation of the ventricles due to diastolic dysfunction. The presence of diastolic dysfunction, in particular when measured with tissue Doppler, is not only related to a greater risk of the development of heart failure, but is also associated with a poor prognosis [1].
Diastolic dysfunction is often present in combination with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. Several antihypertensive agents have proven to effectively reduce left ventricular hypertrophy. However, meta-analyses have indicated that with the same blood pressure reduction, angiotensin receptor blockers are more effective in the reduction of left ventricular hypertrophy than other antihypertensive drugs [2]. In addition, angiotensin receptor blockers have more pronounced effects on the reduction of myocardial fibrosis compared with other anti-hypertensives [3‐5]. Therefore, the effects of angiotensin receptor blockers on diastolic function are expected to be better than other anti-hypertensive drugs.
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A few smaller studies demonstrated beneficial effects of losartan, irbesartan, and telmisartan on diastolic function [6‐12]. However, a recent randomised clinical trial did not demonstrate superiority of an angiotensin receptor blocker over control therapy in improving diastolic function in patients with hypertension and diastolic dysfunction [13]. Despite a slightly larger drop in blood pressure in the valsartan group, there was no difference in diastolic function after 9 months of treatment. Whether treatment in VALIDD was related to changes in neurohormonal activation remains unknown, since no data on neurohormonal changes were reported. This can be important, since changes in (NT-pro)BNP and other neurohormones might indicate an early change in cardiac filling pressures, potentially leading to structural and functional cardiac changes.
We conducted a prospective, randomised study to evaluate the effects of the angiotensin receptor blocker eprosartan versus control anti-hypertensive therapy on diastolic function and neurohormonal changes in patients with hypertension and diastolic dysfunction.
2 Methods
2.1 Design
The “effects of Eprosartan on Echocardiographic and Neurohormonal parameters of Diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients (EEND) study” was a prospective, randomised, open label trial, with blinded endpoint evaluation (PROBE).
2.2 Patients
From 2004 to 2007, 97 patients with hypertension and signs of diastolic dysfunction were randomised in three centres in the Netherlands. Patients older than 18 years, with hypertension (blood pressure ≥ 140/90), who were not yet treated with an angiotensin II-AT1 receptor antagonist, underwent routine echocardiography and were screened for signs of diastolic dysfunction.
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Patients were eligible to participate if left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was >50%, and E/A-ratio was <1 in combination with either a deceleration time (DCT) >280 ms or an isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) >105 ms. Exclusion criteria were recent myocardial infarction (<6 weeks), unstable angina pectoris, severe valvular disease, acute heart failure, atrial fibrillation, pacemaker, history of drug-sensitivity or allergy for eprosartan, pregnancy of lactation, clinical significant liver or renal disease, infection, and previous poor quality echocardiogram. Patients were randomized between eprosartan 600 mg once daily (400 mg 2 weeks loading dose) and other anti-hypertensives (n = 47) or other anti-hypertensives alone (n = 50) for a period of 6 months. Other anti-hypertensives that were allowed included ACE-inhibitors, β-blockers, diuretics, calcium antagonists, but not ARBs. This study protocol was approved by the institutional review committee and all patients provided written informed consent.
2.3 Procedures
Patients were screened at the outpatient of the St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, the University Medical Centre Groningen, Refaja Hospital Stadskanaal, the Netherlands.
All patients who met the screening criteria signed informed consent and were referred for echocardiographic screening. After echocardiography, a baseline visit was performed, which included medical history, current medication use, physical examination, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements (mean of three recordings after 5 min in supine position); ECG, routine laboratory screening, including haemoglobin, haematocrit, creatinin, urea, sodium, potassium, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Patients who fulfilled all inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized to eprosartan or control treatment. Eprosartan was administered as 400 mg once daily during the first 2 weeks, and uptitrated to 600 mg once daily, unless there were side effects. Additional anti-hypertensive therapy was allowed when the control blood pressure of <140/90 mmHg was not achieved. In the control arm, all other anti-hypertensive agents, except angiotensin receptor blockers, were allowed to reach the target blood pressure of <140/90 mmHg.
After 6 weeks, a second outpatient clinic visit was performed, including changes in medication, registration of (serious) adverse events, medical history, physical examination. ECG, and routine laboratory screening. At 6 months, a final outpatient visit was performed, including the same assessments as the 6 weeks visit, and in addition an echocardiogram was performed. No patient was lost during follow-up.
2.4 Echocardiography
Patients underwent two-dimensional echocardiography, including colour flow mapping 2D-guided M-mode, blood pool and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Echocardiography was performed by experienced cardiac technicians using either a General Electric VIVID 7 system or a Philips 7500 Sonos System, with a 2.5 mHz probe. Measurements of diastolic function were done in accordance with the most recent recommendations [14]. Measurements included left ventricular and atrial dimensions, the peak early (E) and late (A) diastolic filling velocities, isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT), deceleration time (slope) of the early peak filling (DCT). Furthermore, using tissue Doppler imaging, early diastolic velocity (E′) was measured on the lateral, septal, anterior, and inferior wall areas, and subsequently averaged (mean E′). E/E′ was calculated by dividing the peak early diastolic filling (E) by the average E′ measured using tissue Doppler imaging. In one centre (University Medical Centre Groningen), colour coded tissue Doppler (ccTDI) instead of pulsed wave tissue Doppler (pwTDI) was used. A recent comparison between ccTDI and pwTDI was conducted and yielded the following conversion formulas: \( {\text{E}}\prime \left( {{\text{pwTDI}}} \right) = 1.6 + 1.2 \times {\text{E}}\prime \left( {{\text{ccTDI}}} \right)\ \)] and \( {\text{E}}/{\text{E}}\prime \left( {{\text{pwTDI}}} \right) = 1.3 + 0.6 \times {\text{E}}/{\text{E}}\prime \left( {{\text{ccTDI}}} \right) \) We therefore presented all data as pwTDI. Relative wall thickness (RWT) was calculated as (interventricular wall thickness + left ventricular posterior wall thickness)/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter.
2.5 Neurohormonal markers
Venous blood samples and urine samples were taken at the outpatient clinic while the patient was in an upright position. The blood and urine samples were transported to the local laboratory immediately and each aliquot was processed and stored according to protocol for later batched analysis. The concentration of aldosterone was measured by a sandwich radioimmunoassay (Diagnostic Products Corporation, Breda, the Netherlands). Active renin protein was measured by an immunoradiometric assay (Nichols Institute Diagnostics, Middlesex, United Kingdom) and serum ACE activity was measured by an enzymatic assay (Bühlmann Laboratory AG, Schünenbuch, Swiss). NT-probrain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) was measured by an Elecsys NT-proBNP immunoassay (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). Renal function was expressed as estimated GFR (eGFR), calculated with the simplified MDRD formula [15]. Analyses were performed in a routine setting according to the guidelines of the manufacturer.
2.6 Statistical analysis
The EEND study is considered to be a pilot study. As no data were available on this subject at the time of initiation of the study, formal calculation of the sample size was not performed. Participants who met all inclusion criteria and had no exclusion criteria were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to standard treatment or standard treatment combined with eprosartan 600 mg once daily. Between-group differences were analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Endpoints of interest were:
a)
Change in diastolic function, measured with the mean tissue Early (E′) velocity;
b)
Change in diastolic function, measured with E/E′;
c)
Change in neurohormonal markers
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Data were analyzed using SAS version 9.1. Continuous variables were expressed as means±SD or as median [25–75% interquartile range], where applicable. Nominal variables are expressed as n (%). Baseline characteristics were analysed for difference over treatment group by using student’s t test or Mann-Whitney U test where applicable for continuous variables and by chi-square using nominal variables. The effects of eprosartan on diastolic function were evaluated using student’s t test or Mann-Whitney U test where applicable. The relation between change in blood pressure (tertiles) and change in NT-proBNP was tested using ANOVA. A p-value P ≤ 0.05 (two-sided) was considered statistically significant.
3 Results
Data were analysed from 97 patients (35 male) aged 65 ± 10 years who were randomly assigned to 6 months open-label treatment with either eprosartan (in combination with other anti-hypertensives; n = 47) or other anti-hypertensives alone (n = 50). Baseline characteristics are depicted in Table 1. According to the definition of the 2007 Guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension [16], at randomization 2 (2%) patients had normal blood pressure, 2 (2%) had high-normal blood pressure, 30 (31%) patients had grade 1, 21 (22%) grade 2, and 10 (10%) grade 3 hypertension, and 32 (33%) were classified as having isolated systolic hypertension. Twenty patients (21%) had chronic heart failure. These chronic heart failure patients were stable and on medication for at least 3 months. Only few patients had diabetes mellitus (11%).
Table 1
Baseline characteristics
Eprosartan
Control
p-value
N = 47
N = 50
Mean age (years±SD)
65.2 (±9.7)
63.9 (±9.7)
0.52
% Female
30 (65%)
31 (62%)
0.74
Body mass index
28.7 (±4.2)
29.2 (±5.3)
0.63
Heart failure
11 (23%)
9 (18%)
0.51
Current smoking
8 (17%)
8 (16%)
0.89
Diabetes
5 (11%)
6 (12.0%)
0.51
History of AMI
0 (0%)
2 (4%)
0.17
NT-proBNP (pg/ml)
113 (±101)
125 (±139)
0.63
Creatinin (μmol/L)
84 (±20.8)
80 (±20.6)
0.52
eGFR (sMDRD) ml/min/1.73 m2
73.5 (±16.0)
78.6 (±16.6)
0.13
Cholesterol (mmol/l)
5.2 (±1.2)
5.2 (±1.0)
0.14
AMI acute myocardial infarction; eGFR estimated glomerular filtration rate; sMDRD simplified modification of diet in renal disease equation
Anti-hypertensive treatment at baseline and at the end of follow-up in both groups is depicted in Table 2. As expected, more anti-hypertensives were used in the control group compared with the eprosartan group.
Table 2
Anti-hypertensive drugs other than eprosartan at baseline and at the end of the study at 6 months in the eprosartan and control groups
baseline
6 months
Eprosartan (n = 47)
Control (n = 50)
p-value
Eprosartan (n = 45)
Control (n = 47)
p-value
ACE-inhibitor
19 (40%)
24 (48%)
0.45
12 (27%)
24 (51%)
0.02
Betablocker
17 (36%)
18 (36%)
0.97
17 (39%)
24 (51%)
0.23
Calcium-antagonist
9 (19%)
9 (18%)
0.92
11 (24%)
18 (38%)
0.15
Diuretic
12 (26%)
18 (36%)
0.26
20 (44%)
31 (66%)
0.04
3.1 Blood pressure changes
Baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 158 ± 17 mmHg and 91 ± 10 mmHg, and was comparable between the eprosartan (157 ± 16 mmHg) and control group (158 ± 17 mmHg) (Fig. 1). After 6 months of treatment, systolic blood pressures were significantly lower, both in the eprosartan group (145 ± 18 mmHg; p < 0.001 vs. baseline) and in the control group (141 ± 18 mmHg; p < 0.001 vs. baseline; p = ns between groups). Changes in systolic (−13 ± 19 mmHg vs. −16 ± 17 mmHg; p between groups = 0.38) and diastolic blood pressure (−7 ± 10 mmHg vs. −7 ± 10 mmHg; p between groups = 0.74), were similar in the eprosartan and control groups respectively. The changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between baseline and 6 months are depicted in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1
Changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) between baseline and after 6 months in the eprosartan and control group
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3.2 Echocardiographic changes
The echocardiographic findings at baseline and after 6 months are described in Table 3. Despite a significant drop in blood pressure, diastolic function remained largely unchanged in both groups. Mean TDI in the eprosartan group was 8.0 ± 2.3 cm/s at baseline and 8.3 ± 2.2 cm/s after 6 months, and 8.4 ± 2.1 cm/s and 8.5 ± 2.0 cm/s respectively at baseline and after 6 months in the control group (Fig. 2). Mean E/E′ remained unchanged both in the eprosartan group (baseline: 9.3 ± 4.0; 6 months: 9.4 ± 4.2) and in the control group (baseline: 8.7 ± 2.5; 6 months: 8.9 ± 3.5); (p = NS both for changes within and between groups).
Table 3
Echocardiographic characteristics
Eprosartan
Control
p-value between groups at 6 months
Baseline
6 months
Baseline
6 months
E/A ratio
0.85 (±0.26)
0.85 (±0.17)
0.84 (±0.21)
0.93 (±0.26)
0.09
DC time (ms)
238 (±48)
240 (±58)
246 (±60)
221 (±50)
0.83
IVRT (ms)
102 (±24)
99 (±21)
103 (±27)
103 (±24)
0.39
Mean E′(cm/s)
8.0 (±2.3)
8.3 (±2.2)
8.4 (±2.1)
8.5 (±2.0)
0.48
LVMI (g/m2)
110 (±37)
102 (±36)
106 (±27)
110 (±27)
0.31
RWT (mm)
0.44 (±0.10)
0.43 (±0.12)
0.46 (±0.12)
0.45 (±0.14)
0.47
E/E′
9.3 (±4.0)
9.4 (±4.2)
8.7 (±2.5)
8.9 (±3.5)
0.50
LA diameter
38 (±4.5)
38 (±4.7)
38 (±5.1)
38 (±5.3)
0.54
LVEF (%)
58.0 (±4.2)
58.0 (±3.5)
58.4 (±3.1)
57.6 (±5.4)
0.69
Septal wall (mm)
10.5 (±2.9)
10.5 (±2.4)
10.6 (±1.8)
10.7 (±2.0)
0.62
Posterior wall (mm)
10.1 (±1.6)
10.5 (±4.2)
10.3 (±1.6)
10.2 (±1.5)
0.65
LVEDD (mm)
47.8 (±4.9)
45.4 (±9.3)
46.3 (±5.8)
47.4 (±7.0)
0.26
LVESD (mm)
29.6 (±6.2)
28.3 (±7.5)
30.0 (±4.5)
26.1 (±7.5)
0.17
PVa (cm/sec)
32.4 (±6.3)
33.5 (±13.0)
33.2 (±10.3)
32.0 (±12.9)
0.59
DC deceleration; IVRT isovolumetric relaxation time; LVMI left ventricular mass index; LVEF left ventricular ejection fraction; LA left atrium; LVEDD left ventricular end diastolic diameter; LVESD left ventricular end systolic diameter; PVa pulmonary vein atrial flow reversal. RWT relative wall thickness
Fig. 2
Changes in diastolic function (mean tissue Doppler velocity E′ mean and E/E′) between baseline and after 6 months in the eprosartan and control group
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Additional analyses showed no correlation between the changes in SBP and the changes mean TDI (r = −0.06; p = 0.58) or the change in E/E′ (r = 0.13; p = 0.24).
3.3 Changes in neurohormonal markers
In the overall group, no significant effects were found on neurohormones in both groups between baseline and 6 months of treatment (NT-proBNP: −2.8 pg/ml; p = 0.81, renin +6.1 pg/ml; p = 0.06; aldosterone −23 pg/ml; p = 0.20; ACE −0.56 pg/ml; p = 0.63) However, aldosterone was significantly lower after 6 months in the eprosartan group compared to the control group. (Table 4) Changes in NT-proBNP and other neurohormonal markers in the eprosartan and control groups are described in Table 4.
Table 4
Laboratory changes in the eprosartan and control groups
Baseline
6 months
Change
Eprosartan
Control
Eprosartan
Control
p-value
Eprosartan
Control
p-value
NT-proBNP
113 (±101)
125 (±139)
134 (±144)
103 (±92)
0.25
+21 (±98)
−23 (±110)
0.06
Aldosterone
274 (±158)
294 (±210)
227 (±151)
298 (±169)
0.04
−45 (±130)
−5 (±193)
0.26
Renin
15 (±11)
54 (±120)
15 (±8)
14 (±12)
0.26
+7 (±6)
+5 (±10)
0.72
ACE
26 (±15)
32 (±20)
30 (±16)
31 (±23)
0.76
+2 (±12)
−1 (±9)
0.32
We found no correlation between the change in diastolic function and the change in NT-proBNP. However, a modest correlation was found between the reduction in systolic blood pressure and the reduction in NT-proBNP (r = 0.26; p = 0.019). Figure 3 shows that the decrease of NT-proBNP was largest in the highest tertile of drop of SBP between baseline and 6 months.
Fig. 3
Change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) from baseline to 6 months, divided in tertiles, related to changes in NT-proBNP
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3.4 Adverse events
There were no serious adverse events reported. A total of 14 adverse events were reported in nine patients, without differences between groups.
4 Discussion
The present study shows that treatment with eprosartan and control treatment in hypertension patients with signs of diastolic dysfunction resulted in a rapid and sustained drop in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Despite this, diastolic function remained largely unchanged, both in the eprosartan group and in the control group, without any difference between the groups. Overall, no significant effects on neurohormones were found in both groups, although the reduction in systolic blood pressure was associated with the reduction in NT-proBNP.
4.1 No improvement of diastolic function after lowering blood pressure
Data on the effects of the treatment of blood pressure on diastolic function, measured with tissue Doppler, are scarce. A few studies demonstrated an improvement of diastolic function after blood pressure lowering therapies [7‐11]. In contrast, one study did not demonstrate beneficial effects of losartan on diastolic function in patients with hypertension [12]. However, these studies either did not have a controlled design, or suboptimal echocardiographic measurements for diastolic function were used. Two randomised controlled studies demonstrated beneficial effect of blood lowering therapies on diastolic function in patients with hypertension [6, 13]. In the Swedish Irbesartan Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Investigation vs Atenolol (SILVHIA) study, both irbesartan and atenolol improved diastolic function in 96 hypertensive patients [6]. In the VALIDD study, diastolic function at baseline was comparable with our study [13]. Mean TDI significantly decreased in both treatment arms, but not E/E′. In contrast to our study, they found that patients with larger blood pressure reductions had larger improvements of diastolic function. In the Hong Kong diastolic heart failure study, patients with diastolic heart failure were randomised to either a diuretic alone, a diuretic plus an ACE-inhibitor, or a diuretic plus an angiotensin receptor blocker [17]. In this study, neither the ACE-inhibitor, nor the angiotensin receptor blocker (irbesartan) affected diastolic function, quality of life, or 6 min walk test [17]. In addition, similar to our study and VALIDD, no improvement in E/E′ was seen, while there was only a modest improvement in mean TDI [17]. Therefore, evidence exists for a beneficial effect of blood pressure lowering therapy on diastolic function.
In contrast, our study did not demonstrate an improvement on diastolic function in patients with hypertension, despite a significant drop in blood pressure. One explanation might be that tissue Doppler values of the patients in the present were similar to those reported in an age-matched general population [18]. However, diastolic function was comparable with patients in VALIDD, and worse compared with the SILVHIA study. Both in VALIDD and in SILVHIA, anti-hypertensive therapy improved diastolic function. A more likely explanation therefore might be that the treatment period of 6 months might not have been sufficient to show an effect on diastolic function. The association between lowering blood pressure and a decrease in NT-proBNP might indicate that although cardiac stress has diminished, this is not yet translated into structural cardiac changes.
4.2 No superiority of an angiotensin receptor blocker over other blood pressure lowering drugs
Our finding that eprosartan was not superior compared with other anti-hypertensive drugs in improving diastolic function is consistent with findings in VALIDD and the Hong Kong diastolic heart failure study [13, 17]. In VALIDD, the effects of valsartan were not superior to control treatment in improving diastolic function [13]. In the Hong Kong heart failure study, the addition of ramipril or irbesartan to a diuretic was not better in improving diastolic function than a diuretic alone, although these patients were different from the present study, since they were all diasto0lic heart failure patients [17]. So, despite their marked effects on fibrosis and left ventricular hypertrophy, angiotensin receptor blockers do not seem to be superior to other anti-hypertensive drugs. Taken together with the finding that diastolic function did not improve after lowering of blood pressure in both groups, one might suggest that neither angiotensin receptor blockers nor other anti-hypertensive drugs have marked effects on the improvement of diastolic function. These findings might also explain why large randomised clinical trials with ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and beta-blockers in patients with diastolic heart failure showed limited effects on clinical outcome [19‐22].
4.3 Changes in neurohormonal markers after anti-hypertensive treatment
It is well known that ARBs lower aldosterone levels, as was also found in the present study. These findings were not influenced by the use of aldosterone blockers [23]. Overall, we did not find a significant drop in NT-proBNP, neither in the eprosartan nor in the control group. However, blood pressure reduction was related to a decrease in NT-proBNP. This might suggest that blood pressure lowering does result in a decrease in cardiac stress, which is not recognized or followed by a decrease in left ventricular hypertrophy or an improvement in diastolic function after 6 months of treatment. However, NT-proBNP might be a sensitive and early marker that might only translate into functional and structural changes after more than 6 months of treatment. In VALIDD, no data on (NT-pro)BNP are reported. In the Hong Kong diastolic heart failure study however, only the combination of diuretics and ramipril significantly reduced NT-proBNP, while diuretics alone or the combination of diuretics and irbesartan did not. Of note, all patients in the Hong Kong diastolic heart failure study had heart failure, while in our study only 20 patients (21%) had heart failure. In the present study, a total of 20 patients were reported by their treating physician as having diastolic heart failure. However, patient characteristics, including systolic and diastolic left ventricular function and NT-proBNP were not significantly different between the groups. Therefore, although the diagnosis of heart failure in these patients is highly debatable, they did not differ from patients without heart failure, and did not influence the results.
4.4 Limitations
Several limitations of the present study should be noted. First, the most obvious reason for a lack of effect on diastolic function might be related to the duration of treatment of 6 months. It seems reasonable to believe that structural and functional cardiac changes only occur after a longer duration of treatment. The duration of 6 months was chosen, since an effect was anticipated already within 6 months. Second, diastolic function in these patients was not very poor. Mean E′ was 8.2 cm/s and mean E/E′ was 9.0, indicating that diastolic function was only mildly impaired. However, data were comparable with the VALIDD study [13]. Third, patients were included on the basis of the traditional mitral valve inflow Doppler parameters. Patients were included when they had an inverted E/A ratio, and either an increased deceleration time or an increased isovolumetric relaxation time. At the time of initiation of the study, these measurements were usual clinical practice, although first reports on the superiority of tissue Doppler for the measurement of diastolic function were just presented. Fourth, the group was small, and this may have limited the power to detect smaller differences. Fifth, ACE-inhibitors were allowed in both groups, which may have obscured the difference between RAS-blocked versus non-RAS blockade. In fact, in the eprosartan group, the use of ACE-inhibitors dropped from 40% to 27% after 6 months, while in the control group the use of ACE-inhibitors had slightly increased from 48% to 51%.
4.5 Future perspectives
The present and other studies have indicated that the effects of lowering blood pressure, either with an angiotensin receptor blocker or with any other anti-hypertensive drug, do not seem to markedly improve diastolic function. In addition, large randomized clinical trials showed limited effects of ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or beta-blockers, on clinical outcome in patients with diastolic heart failure [19‐22]. It therefore remains to be established how to treat diastolic heart failure [24, 25]. An interesting novel approach might be to prevent cardiac and vascular collagen crosslink formation with advanced glycation end product (AGE)-breakers [26, 27]. First data have indicated that these agents can improve diastolic function, and further phase II studies currently ongoing [28].
5 Conclusion
In patients with hypertension and mildly impaired diastolic function, neither eprosartan nor other anti-hypertensives did show any improvement in diastolic function or NT-proBNP after 6 months of treatment. However, lowering blood pressure was related to a decrease of NT-proBNP.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by an unrestricted research grant from Solvay Pharma the Netherlands.
Professor van Veldhuisen and Dr Voors are clinical established investigators of the Netherlands Heart Foundation (grant D97.017 and grant 2006T037). Dr Hartog is supported by the Netherlands Heart Foundation (grant 2006T012).
No potential conflicts of interest have been reported.
Open Access
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
Open AccessThis is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0), which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
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