Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension
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The object of this study is to evaluate the long-term effects of olmesartan on hypertension and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in hypertensive patients. This study evaluated 26 hypertensive male and female outpatients, 38-69 years of age, with a systolic blood pressure > or = 160 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure > or = 95 mmHg. Oral doses of 5 to 40 mg olmesartan were administered once daily. ⋯ Angiotensin II levels decreased significantly from a baseline of 20.4+/-3.2 pg/ml to a mean of 8.6+/-2.1 pg/ml and 6.8+/-1.8 pg/ml after 6 months and 1 year of treatment, respectively. The plasma aldosterone level also decreased significantly after 6 months of treatment. In hypertensive patients, the long-term administration of olmesartan, a novel AT1 receptor antagonist, decreased both blood pressure and plasma angiotensin II levels.