Irbesartan improves arterial compliance more than lisinopril

BACKGROUND: Antihypertensive agents can reduce arterial stiffness. We hypothesized that an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) irbesartan and an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) lisinopril improved arterial compliance. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, controlled crossover trial. Fifteen hypertensive patients, mean age 65.5 ± 8.9 years (mean ± SD) were given irbesartan (150 to 300 mg/day) or lisinopril (10 to 20 mg/day) for 12 weeks and then crossed over for 12 weeks. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the carotid-femoral (CF), carotid-radial (CR), and femoral dorsalis-pedis (FD) were measured using a Complior(®) PWV system. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased from 162.4 ± 12.9 to 134.5 ± 14.8 with irbesartan and to 145.2 ± 25 mmHg with lisinopril. Irbesartan and lisinopril reduced PWV (CF) in the elastic arterial system from 15.1 ± 5 to 13.3 ± 2.6 (p < 0.005) and to 14 ± 4.7 (p < 0.05) m/s respectively (p = 0.345). Irbesartan reduced PWV (CR) and PWV (FD), whereas lisinopril did not. The difference between treatments was significant after SBP adjustment (p = 0.037 for PWV (CR) and p < 0.001 for PWV (FD)). CONCLUSIONS: Irbesartan improved arterial compliance in elastic and muscular arteries, whereas lisinopril improved it only in elastic arteries.