[Anti-hypertensive effect of eprosartan in diabetic patients]

Diabetes mellitus seems to induce an special difficulty to control the high blood pressure. This effect is more severe on the SBP. Previous reports suggest that a new angiotensin receptor blocker, eprosartan, might have a higher efficacy to reduce SBP. It has been evaluated the BP decrease obtained with eprosartan in a group of diabetics patients compared to non diabetic patients.

81 patients were recruited of whom 65 have ended follow-up. 34 patients were diabetics (mean age 66.7+/-10.7 years, 15 men and 19 women) and 31 were non diabetics control patients (mean age 61.8+/-12,8 years, 13 men and 18 women). All patients were treated with (600 mg) once daily. The doses was ingested in the morning. They were made three follow up visits (1, 3 and 6 mo after the first visit).

SBP was significantly decreased both in diabetics (baseline 170.9+/-12.0, final 139.1+/-13.0 mmHg, p < 0.001) and in non diabetics group (baseline 169.9+/-18.0, final 142.0+/-13.3 mmHg, p < 0.001). DBP was also reduced in both groups (diabetics: baseline 92.9+/-9.7, final 78.4+/-8.5 mmHg, p < 0.001; non diabetics: baseline 95.6+/-7.9, final 79.1+/-7.4 mmHg, p < 0.001). Differences between the groups were not significant in any visit. Final BP reduction reached was -31.7/-14.6 mmHg in diabetics vs -27,6/-16,5 mmHg in non diabetics patients (difference is not significant) Pulse pressure changes were not different between the two groups (diabetics, 17.8+/-14.5, vs non diabetics, 11.1+/-13.2 mmHg). Two diabetic patients need a second drug to achieve BP goal and no one in non diabetic group. No adverse effects were reported.

Eprosartan seems to be an effective drug to reduce SBP, DBP and pulse pressure with the same effectiveness in diabetics and non diabetic patients.