Candesartan cilexetil in treatment of essential hypertension in 118 patients

AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of candesartan cilexetil and losartan in the treatment of essential hypertension.METHODS: Following a 2 wk placebo period,238 patients were enrolled to a multiple-center,randomized,double-blind,double-simulate,parallel study with either candesartan cilexetil 8 mg(n=118) or losartan 50 mg(n=120) once daily for 8 wk.Dose doubling was carried out for those with diastolic blood pressure ≥12 kPa after 2 wk treatment.RESULTS: A significant reduction of blood pressure(SBP or DBP) was achieved in both groups(P0.01).There was no significant difference in responder rates between candesartan cilexetil treated patients(82.2 %) and that of losartan treated patients(84.2 %). The tough to peak ratios of SBP and DBP were calculated as 0.75,0.71 for candesartan cilexetil and 0.76,0.94 for losartan.CONCLUSION: Candesartan cilexetil once daily is effective,safe and well tolerated in mild to moderate hypertension patients.