TY - JOUR
T1 - Targeting hypertension with Valsartan
T2 - Lessons learned from the Valsartan/HCTZ versus amlodipine in stage II hypertensive patients (VAST) trial
AU - Ruilope, Luis M.
AU - Zanchetti, Alberto
PY - 2006/6
Y1 - 2006/6
N2 - Many patients with hypertension, especially those at increased risk because of additional cardiovascular risk factors, require treatment with more than one antihypertensive agent to achieve target blood pressure (BP) goals. Many different classes of antihypertensive agents are available: a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blocker and a diuretic are widely used in combination. Here we report the results of the recently completed Valsartan/HCTZ versus Amlodipine in STage II hypertensive patients (VAST) trial. In this 24-week study, patients with moderate hypertension and at least one other cardiovascular risk factor were treated with a combination of valsartan 160 mg and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 or 25 mg once daily (o.d.), or with amlodipine monotherapy (10 mg o.d.). Overall, valsartan plus HCTZ 25 mg reduced systolic BP significantly more than amlodipine monotherapy, and with fewer adverse events. In addition, combination therapy resulted in a trend towards more favourable outcomes with respect to pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory markers than amlodipine alone.
AB - Many patients with hypertension, especially those at increased risk because of additional cardiovascular risk factors, require treatment with more than one antihypertensive agent to achieve target blood pressure (BP) goals. Many different classes of antihypertensive agents are available: a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blocker and a diuretic are widely used in combination. Here we report the results of the recently completed Valsartan/HCTZ versus Amlodipine in STage II hypertensive patients (VAST) trial. In this 24-week study, patients with moderate hypertension and at least one other cardiovascular risk factor were treated with a combination of valsartan 160 mg and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 or 25 mg once daily (o.d.), or with amlodipine monotherapy (10 mg o.d.). Overall, valsartan plus HCTZ 25 mg reduced systolic BP significantly more than amlodipine monotherapy, and with fewer adverse events. In addition, combination therapy resulted in a trend towards more favourable outcomes with respect to pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory markers than amlodipine alone.
KW - Hydrochlorothiazide
KW - Hypertension
KW - Valsartan
KW - VAST trial
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33748665219&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33748665219&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 16986228
AN - SCOPUS:33748665219
VL - 7
JO - JRAAS - Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
JF - JRAAS - Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
SN - 1470-3203
IS - SUPPL. 1
ER -