Role of angiotensin II in plasma PAI-1 changes induced by imidapril or candesartan in hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome

To evaluate the relationship between plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and angiotensin II (Ang II) changes during treatment with imidapril and candesartan in hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome. A total of 84 hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome were randomized to imidapril 10 mg or candesartan 16 mg for 16 weeks. At weeks 4 and 8, there was a dose titration to imidapril 20 mg and candesartan 32 mg in nonresponders (systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140 and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >90 mm Hg). We evaluated, at baseline and after 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks, clinic blood pressure, Ang II and PAI-1 antigen. Both imidapril and candesartan induced a similar SBP/DBP reduction (-19.4/16.8 and-19.5/16.3 mm Hg, respectively, P-1, P-1, P-1 at week 16, P-1, P