Influence of fixed-dose combination perindopril/amlodipine on target organ damage in patients with arterial hypertension with and without ischemic heart disease (results of EPHES trial)

Abstract

BackgroundThe EPHES trial (Evaluation of influence of fixed dose combination Perindo-pril/amlodipine on target organ damage in patients with arterial HypErtension with or without iSchemic heart disease) compared the dynamics of target organ damage (TOD) in hypertensive patients with and without ischemic heart disease (IHD) treated with the fixed-dose combination (FDC) perindopril + amlodipine.MethodsThe analysis included 60 hypertensive patients (aged >30 years): 30 without IHD and 30 with IHD. At randomization, FDC was administered at a daily baseline dose of 5/5 mg with uptitration to 10/10 mg every two weeks. If target blood pressure (BP<140/90 mmHg) was not achieved after six weeks, indapamide 1.5 mg was added to the regimen. All patients underwent body mass index measurements, office and ambulatory BP measurements, pulse wave velocity (PWVe) and central systolic BP evaluation, augmentation index adjusted to heart rate 75 (Aix@75) evaluation, biochemical analysis, ECG, echocardiography with Doppler, ankle-brachial index measurement, and intima-media thickness measurement. The follow-up period was 12 months.ResultsTherapy based on FDC perindopril/amlodipine was effective in lowering BP (office, ambulatory, central) in both groups. We noted significant decrease in Aix@75 with the therapy in both groups, but ΔAix@75 was lesser in the group with IHD than the group without IHD. FDC provided significant improvement in PWVe and left ventricular diastolic function, and decrease in albuminuria, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and left atrium size. ΔPWVe was significantly (P<0.005) less in patients without IHD than those with IHD (2.5±0.2 vs 4.4±0.5 m/s, respectively). In spite of almost equal LVH regression, the positive dynamics of ΔE/A and ΔE/E´ were more in patients with IHD than those without IHD (64.4% and 54.1% vs 39.8 and 23.2%, respectively; P<0.05 for both comparisons). Adverse reactions were in 2 (6.5%) patients without IHD and 3 (10%) with IHD (P=NS). In the group with IHD, we noted significant decrease in angina episode rate – from 2.5±0.4 to 1.2±0.2 (P<0.01) per week.ConclusionThus, treatment based on FDC was effective in decreasing BP and TOD regression in both patients with and without IHD. However, the dynamics of changes in TOD were different between the two groups, which should be taken into consideration during management of patients with and without IHD.

Detailed investigation of multiple resting cardiovascular parameters in relation to physical fitness

“…In a small placebo‐controlled trial in postmyocardial infarction patients, treatment with a combination of a statin and an angiotensin‐receptor blocker reduced PWV (Turk Veselič et al, 2018 ). In an open trial of the combination of an ACE inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker in patients with hypertension, an improvement in PWV was seen after 12 months (Radchenko et al, 2018 ). It would be of interest to see if such interventions that improve arterial stiffness would also have an impact on VO 2 ‐max.…”

“…In a small placebo-controlled trial in postmyocardial infarction patients, treatment with a combination of a statin and an angiotensin-receptor blocker reduced PWV (Turk Veselič et al, 2018). In an open trial of the combination of an ACE inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker in patients with hypertension, an improvement in PWV was seen after 12 months (Radchenko et al, 2018) F I G U R E 2 Relationships between VO 2 -max (adjusted for lean mass) and variables were found to be of major importance to explain the variation in VO 2 -max (adjusted for lean mass). VO 2 -max versus current smoking is given in the upper panel.…”

Challenges in Echocardiography for the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Non-Ischemic Hypertensive Heart Disease

“…Regarding the rest of the clinical echocardiographic parameters, the existing data are limited. Anti-hypertensive medications may also reduce LA volume [121]. Such an effect could be of clinical importance, since it may improve prognosis in non-ischemic cardiomyopathies [122].…”

Single-pill fixed-dose drug combinations to reduce blood pressure: the right pill for the right patient

“…The single-pill FDC perindopril/amlodipine (ACEi and CCB) has shown efficacy in reducing BP, target organ damage, and CV risk in patients with hypertension. 25 – 28 In the PEARL ABPM study, 262 patients were evaluated with ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), showing that the FDC perindopril/amlodipine led to an effective, safe, and sustained 24-h BP control in patients with hypertension uncontrolled by ACEi or CCB alone or a free combination of them. 26 …”