Effect of Irbesartan on vascular endothelial function in elderly patients with essential hypertension

[Objective]To study the effects of irbesartan on the occurrence of essential hypertension(EH) and the change of the vascular endothelial function. A total of 64 patients with EH were treated with Irbesartan (150~300 mg), 60 health old people were selected as controlled group. The level of plasma endothelin-1 and NO, blood pressure were measured before and after the treatment of irbesartan. Before treatment with Irbesartan, the plasma NO level was significantly lower than that of the controlled group (P 0.01), and the level of ET-1 in plasma was significantly higher than that of the controlled group (P 0.01). But with the stages of EH increasing, the plasma level of ET-1 becames higher. The plasma level of NO showed negative relation with the stages of EH. After the treatment with irbesartan, the blood pressure were significantly lower than those before the treatment (P 0.01). The plasma level of NO was higher than that before the treatment (P 0.05). The level of ET-1 after treated decreased more than before (P 0.05). [Conclusion] The treatment with irbesartan can decrease the blood pressure and can improve the vascular endothelial constrcuction and function.