The serum uric acid level in systolic hypertension in the elderly and the effect of losartan potassium

Objective To investigate the serum uric acid level in isolated systolic hypertension(ISH)in the elderly,and effect of Losartan potassium .Method Serum uric acid level were assessed spectrophotometrically using enzymatic methods in 85 ISH patients and 51 health controls.Serum uric acid level and blood pressue were compared respectively before and after the treatment of losartan potassium and Benzepril.Result Uric acid level was higher in patients with ISH than that in control group (P 0.01).No significant difference was found between Losartan potassium and Benzepril group on the effect of lowering blood pressure .After antihypertensive treatment,uric acid level in Losartan group was significantly lower than that in Benzepril group(P 0.01).Conclusion Uric acid level was marked higher in ISH in the elderly;Losartan prtassium has an additional benefit of some uricosuric effects besides the antihypertensive effect.