Effects of Mono- and Dual Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin System on Markers of Cardiovascular Status in Hypertensive Patients with Mild and Moderate Renal Failure

Abstract

Background/Aims: Dual renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade has no more efficiency to decrease cardiovascular mortality than mono-blockade. Our goal was to explore differences between other cardiovascular markers in patients with RAS blockade. Methods: We analyzed two groups of patients treated with a long-term ACE inhibitor (MONO-group, n = 20) and an ACE inhibitor and angiotensin II receptor blocker (DUAL-group, n = 15). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, echocardiography, arterial stiffness and levels of catecholamine, endogenous ouabain (EO), pro-brain natriuretic peptide and more types of urinary albumin measurements were performed. Results: In the DUAL-group, we found significantly better cardiac parameters, but the levels of EO and urinary albumins were similar in both groups. The level of EO correlates with nighttime mean arterial blood pressure (R = 0.556, p = 0.032) and arterial β-stiffness (R = 0.512, p = 0.042). Urinary immuno-unreactive albumin showed a relationship with diastolic dysfunction of the heart (R = –0.508, p = 0.045) diurnal index of diastolic blood pressure (R = –0.569, p = 0.021) in the MONO-group. Conclusion: Cardiac parameters were more prosperous in the DUAL-group, but the levels of EO did not differ between groups. The level of EO correlated with blood pressure and arterial stiffness markers in the MONO-group only. The urinary immuno-unreactive albumin may be a new marker of cardiovascular conditions.