Effects of telmisartan on the levels of hs-CRP, left ventricular remodeling and left ventricular function in patients with essential hypertension and coronary heart disease

AIM: To investigate the effects of telmisartan on the levels of high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), left ventricular remodeling and left ventricular functions in patients with essential hypertension and coronary heart disease. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with coronary heart disease and essential hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were randomized into the telmisartan group (49 cases) or benazepri group(44 cases) and were treated with telmisartan (80-160 mg/d) or benazepril (10-20 mg/d). The patients were followed-up for 24 weeks and the levels of cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), uric acid (UA) and hs-CRP were measured before and after treatment. Color Doppler echocardiography was used to study the left ventricular structure and functions. RESULTS: After 24 weeks of treatment with telmisartan or benazepril, blood pressure reduced from 161/101 to 130/83 mmHg (P<0.01) or from 160/102 to 131/85 mmHg (P<0.01) respectively. At the end of 24 weeks, significant decrease was observed in TG, IVST, LVPWT, LVDd and A/E (P<0.05), as well as in UA, LVEF, hs-CRP and LVMI (P<0.01) in patients treated with telmisartan. In patients treated with benazepril, significant decrease was seen only in hs-CRP and LVMI (P<0.05). No significant changes were observed in total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C in either group. Linear regression analysis indicated that hs-CRP was strongly associated with LVMI (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Telmisartan and benazepri are all effective in reducing blood pressure, But telmisartan is better than benazepri in regulating the levels of TG, UA, hs-CRP, and improving left ventricular functions and reversing LVH.