[Correction of endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus during combined antihypertensive therapy].

AIM

To evaluate the impact of 6-month antihypertensive therapy with the combined drug amlodipine + lisinopril (ekvator) on endothelial dysfunction (ED) and carbohydrate metabolic parameters in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The investigation enrolled 30 patients aged 40-65 years with Stages II-III hypertension concurrent with type 2 DM. All the patients received combined antihypertensive therapy with amlodipine + lisinopril for 24 weeks. Endothelial function (EF) was studied from the serum and urine concentrations of the metabolites nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) and from occlusion test results. Carbohydrate metabolic parameters were estimated. Insulin resistance (IR) was judged from basal insulin concentrations, followed by the calculations of the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index.

RESULTS

Following 24 weeks of therapy with amlodipine + lisinopril and close adherence to dietary recommendations, all the patients achieved the target levels of blood pressure and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). There was a significant improvement in EF in hypertensive patients with type 2 DM: NO production was increased in both the serum and urine (by 122.8 and 65.8%, respectively). ET-1 secretion was naturally decreased in both the serum and urine (by 26.1 and 76.1%, respectively; p < 0.05). Analysis of the vascular component of EF during treatment with the combined drug amlodipine + lisinopril revealed a statistically significant patient redistribution by the types of microcirculation and the results of an occlusion test, by calculating the responsiveness of large arteries: the number of patients with normal microcirculation increased from 13.3 to 86.7% and that of patients with hyperemic microcirculation declined from 66.7 to 0. The number of patients with a paradoxical occlusion test significantly reduced from 46.7% at baseline to 20% after 24 weeks of treatment with the combined medication amlodipine + lisinopril. Fasting blood glucose levels and HOMA index were decreased by 22.1 and 22.4%, respectively (p < 0.05). There were statistically significant correlations between the HOMA index and the concentrations of NO in the urine (r = -0.45) and blood (r = -0.54) and those of ET-1 in the blood (r = -0.54).

CONCLUSION

Twenty-four-week combined antihypertensive therapy with the drug amlodipine + lisinopril is safe and highly effective in EF recovery and favorably affects carbohydrate metabolic parameters in the hypertensive patients with type 2 DM.