Effect of low-dose terazosin on arterial stiffness improvement: A pilot study

Arterial stiffness, a prominent hallmark of ageing arteries, is a predictor of all-cause mortality. Strategies for promoting healthy vascular ageing are encouraged. Here we conducted a pilot study to evaluate the potential effects of low-dose Terazosin on arterial stiffness. We enrolled patients aged over 40 with elevated arterial stiffness, defined as a brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) ≥1400 cm/s, who were administered Terazosin (0.5 and 1.0 mg/day) from December 2020 to June 2023. Treatment responses were assessed every 3 months. Linear regression analysis was used to characterise the improvement. We matched cases who took Terazosin for 1 year with Terazosin-free controls using propensity score matching (PSM). Our findings demonstrate that Terazosin administration significantly affected arterial stiffness. (1) Arterial stiffness significantly improved (at least a 5% reduction in baPWV) in 50.0% of patients at 3 months, 48.6% at 6 months, 59.3% at 9 months, and 54.4% at 12 months, respectively. (2) Those with higher baseline baPWV and hypertension exhibited a significantly reduced risk of non-response. (3) Terazosin was associated with a reduction of baPWV at 1-year follow-up (linear regression: β = -165.16, p < 0.001). This pilot study offers valuable insights into the potential significance of Terazosin in improving arterial stiffness and paves the way for future randomised clinical trials in combating vascular ageing.