Effect of valsartan on endothelium-dependent relaxing function in essential hypertension patients

Objective: To investigate the effect of valsartan on blood pressure and endothelium dependent relaxing function in patients with essential hypertension (EH). Methods: With high resolution ultrasound, we measured endothelium dependent relaxing function in 30 patients with EH who were treated with valsartan and 30 normal persons. Results: In patients with EH, flow mediated dilatation in arteries was much reduced compared with control group (6.7%±3.3% VS 13.3%±3.8%, P0.05 ), after 30 patients with EH had been treated with valsartan for 12 weeks, their flow mediated vasodilations were greater than before (10.5%±3.9% VS 6.7%±3.3%, P0.05 ). Conclusion: Endothelium dependent vasodilation was impaired in patients with EH, and hypertension management with valsartan may improve endothelium dependent vasodilation function.