Open AccessTargeting hypertension with valsartan: Lessons learned from the Valsartan/HCTZ versus Amlodipine in stage II hypertensive patients (VASt) trial.
Author(s) -
Luís M. Ruilope,
Alberto Zanchetti
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
jraas. journal of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system/journal of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.457
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1752-8976
pISSN - 1470-3203
DOI - 10.3317/jraas.2006.020
Subject(s) - valsartan , amlodipine , hydrochlorothiazide , medicine , blood pressure , diuretic , pharmacology , combination therapy , urology , cardiology
Many patients with hypertension, especially those at increased risk because of additional cardiovascular risk factors, require treatment with more than one antihypertensive agent to achieve target blood pressure (BP) goals. Many different classes of antihypertensive agents are available: a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blocker and a diuretic are widely used in combination. Here we report the results of the recently completed Valsartan/HCTZ versus Amlodipine in STage II hypertensive patients (VAST) trial. In this 24-week study, patients with moderate hypertension and at least one other cardiovascular risk factor were treated with a combination of valsartan 160 mg and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 or 25 mg once daily (o.d.), or with amlodipine monotherapy (10 mg o.d.). Overall, valsartan plus HCTZ 25 mg reduced systolic BP significantly more than amlodipine monotherapy, and with fewer adverse events. In addition, combination therapy resulted in a trend towards more favourable outcomes with respect to pro-thrombotic and proinflammatory markers than amlodipine alone.