Open AccessLong‐Term Effects of a Losartan‐Compared With an Atenolol‐Based Treatment Regimen on Carotid Artery Plaque Development in Hypertensive Patients With Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: ICARUS, a LIFE Substudy
Author(s) -
Fossum Eigil,
Olsen Michael Hecht,
Høieggen Aud,
Wachtell Kristian,
Reims Henrik M.,
Kjeldsen Sverre E.,
Ibsen Hans,
Wan Ying,
Julius Stevo
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/j.1524-6175.2006.04838.x
Subject(s) - atenolol , medicine , losartan , cardiology , blood pressure , stroke (engine) , carotid arteries , surrogate endpoint , left ventricular hypertrophy , angiotensin ii , mechanical engineering , engineering
In the Losartan Intervention for Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension (LIFE) study, there was a 25% risk reduction for stroke with angiotensin receptor blocker‐based therapy (losartan) as compared with β‐blocker‐based therapy (atenolol) despite comparable blood pressure reductions. This substudy examines treatment effects on the amount and density of atherosclerotic lesions in the common carotid arteries and the carotid bulb in 81 patients during 3 years of treatment. There were no statistically significant changes in the amount of carotid plaque in patients treated with losartan compared with an atenolol‐based treatment program. A statistically nonsignificant increase in plaque density and index (average of plaque amount and density) was seen in the atenolol group compared with those treated with losartan. The small number of patients evaluated may have limited the power to detect a difference in outcome. The difference in carotid plaque index increase between the treatment groups during 3 years of treatment could not be statistically linked to specific treatments in the present substudy.