TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in 24 h ambulatory blood pressure and effects of angiotensin II receptor blockade during acute and prolonged high-altitude exposure
T2 - A randomized clinical trial
AU - Parati, Gianfranco
AU - Bilo, Grzegorz
AU - Faini, Andrea
AU - Bilo, Barbara
AU - Revera, Miriam
AU - Giuliano, Andrea
AU - Lombardi, Carolina
AU - Caldara, Gianluca
AU - Gregorini, Francesca
AU - Styczkiewicz, Katarzyna
AU - Zambon, Antonella
AU - Piperno, Alberto
AU - Modesti, Pietro Amedeo
AU - Agostoni, Piergiuseppe
AU - Mancia, Giuseppe
PY - 2014/11/21
Y1 - 2014/11/21
N2 - Aim Many hypertensive subjects travel to high altitudes, but little is known on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) changes and antihypertensive drugs' efficacy under acute and prolonged exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. In particular, the efficacy of angiotensin receptor blockers in this condition is unknown. This may be clinically relevant considering that renin-angiotensin system activity changes at altitude. The HIGHCARE-HIMALAYA study assessed changes in 24 h ABP under acute and prolonged exposure to increasing altitude and blood pressure-lowering efficacy and safety of an angiotensin receptor blockade in this setting. Methods and results Forty-seven healthy, normotensive lowlanders were randomized to telmisartan 80 mg or placebo in a double-blind, parallel group trial. Conventional and Ambulatory BPs were measured at baseline and on treatment: after 8 weeks at sea level, and under acute exposure to 3400 and 5400 m altitude, the latter upon arrival and after 12 days (Mt. Everest base camp). Blood samples were collected for plasma catecholamines, renin, angiotensin, and aldosterone. In both groups, exposure to increasing altitude was associated with: (i) significant progressive increases in conventional and 24 h blood pressure, persisting throughout the exposure to 5400 m; (ii) increased plasma noradrenaline and suppressed renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Telmisartan lowered 24 h ABP at the sea level and at 3400 m (between-group difference 4.0 mmHg, 95% CI: 2.2-9.5 mmHg), but not at 5400 m. Conclusion Ambulatory blood pressure increases progressively with increasing altitude, remaining elevated after 3 weeks. An angiotensin receptor blockade maintains blood pressure-lowering efficacy at 3400 m but not at 5400 m.
AB - Aim Many hypertensive subjects travel to high altitudes, but little is known on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) changes and antihypertensive drugs' efficacy under acute and prolonged exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. In particular, the efficacy of angiotensin receptor blockers in this condition is unknown. This may be clinically relevant considering that renin-angiotensin system activity changes at altitude. The HIGHCARE-HIMALAYA study assessed changes in 24 h ABP under acute and prolonged exposure to increasing altitude and blood pressure-lowering efficacy and safety of an angiotensin receptor blockade in this setting. Methods and results Forty-seven healthy, normotensive lowlanders were randomized to telmisartan 80 mg or placebo in a double-blind, parallel group trial. Conventional and Ambulatory BPs were measured at baseline and on treatment: after 8 weeks at sea level, and under acute exposure to 3400 and 5400 m altitude, the latter upon arrival and after 12 days (Mt. Everest base camp). Blood samples were collected for plasma catecholamines, renin, angiotensin, and aldosterone. In both groups, exposure to increasing altitude was associated with: (i) significant progressive increases in conventional and 24 h blood pressure, persisting throughout the exposure to 5400 m; (ii) increased plasma noradrenaline and suppressed renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Telmisartan lowered 24 h ABP at the sea level and at 3400 m (between-group difference 4.0 mmHg, 95% CI: 2.2-9.5 mmHg), but not at 5400 m. Conclusion Ambulatory blood pressure increases progressively with increasing altitude, remaining elevated after 3 weeks. An angiotensin receptor blockade maintains blood pressure-lowering efficacy at 3400 m but not at 5400 m.
KW - Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
KW - Angiotensin receptor blockers
KW - Blood pressure
KW - High altitude
KW - Hypoxia
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U2 - 10.1093/eurheartj/ehu275
DO - 10.1093/eurheartj/ehu275
M3 - Article
C2 - 25161182
AN - SCOPUS:84913601080
VL - 35
SP - 3113
EP - 3122
JO - European Heart Journal
JF - European Heart Journal
SN - 0195-668X
IS - 44
ER -