Effects of selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade with losartan on arterial compliance in patients with mild essential hypertension.

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Losartan, published as a randomized controlled trial.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of losartan, a selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist, on parameters reflecting arterial compliance.

Why It Was Studied

The effect on finger plethysmographic arterial pulse curves were quantified by computing the relative height of the dicrotic notch, and pulse wave velocity was estimated by measurements of the time delay from the start of the QRS-complex (electrocardiogram) to the foot of the plethysmographic pulse wave.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 16 patients taking part.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults, middle-aged adults and older adults.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover.

Because people in this Losartan study were split into groups at random, differences between the groups are less likely to reflect who happened to join each one.

As a double-blind Losartan study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Losartan could be set against what happens without it.

Each person switched between Losartan and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

What Was Measured

The effect on finger plethysmographic arterial pulse curves were quantified by computing the relative height of the dicrotic notch, and pulse wave velocity was estimated by measurements of the time delay from the start of the QRS-complex (electrocardiogram) to the foot of the plethysmographic pulse wave.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Analysis of Variance, Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists, Antihypertensive Agents, Arteries, Blood Pressure, Cardiac Output and Heart Rate.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Losartan in 16 patients.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 1999 (Blood pressure), a journal based in England.

More context: all human trials.