Effects of combined statin and ACE inhibitor therapy on endothelial function and blood pressure in essential hypertension - a randomised double-blind, placebo controlled crossover study

• Published in: Journal of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system 2019-07, Vol.20 (3), p.1470320319868890-1470320319868890
• Main Authors: Ruszkowski, Piotr, Masajtis-Zagajewska, Anna, Nowicki, Michał
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACE inhibitors; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Biomarkers - blood; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Double-blind studies; Drug Therapy, Combination; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Enzymes; Essential Hypertension - blood; Essential Hypertension - drug therapy; Essential Hypertension - physiopathology; Female; Fluvastatin - pharmacology; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Placebos; Proteins; Statins; Vascular endothelial growth factor
• ISSN: 1470-3203; 1752-8976
• DOI: 10.1177/1470320319868890

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the influence of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors on endothelial function and blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension on long-term angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy. Method: The study was designed as a prospective, double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled, crossover clinical trial. Twenty patients with essential hypertension were treated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; the control group included 10 healthy subjects. Hypertensive patients received in random order 80 mg of fluvastatin daily or placebo for 6 weeks. The following parameters were assessed at baseline and after each treatment period: serum lipids, flow-mediated vasodilation, activity of von Willebrand factor, concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor, C-reactive protein and 24-hour blood pressure profile. Results: Hypertensive patients did not differ from healthy subjects with respect to age, body mass and biochemical parameters, with the exception of C-reactive protein, which was higher in hypertensive patients (P=0.02). After statin therapy, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P