[Is hypotensive effectiveness of amlodipine therapy in smokers connected with endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentration?].

An interaction between a vasoconstrictive factor--endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nicotine is currently a subject of investigations. Many studies make us consider whether worse hypotensive effectiveness of many antihypertensive agents applied in smokers may be connected with elevated ET-1 level. The aim of this study was evaluation of hypotensive effectiveness of amlodipine in smoking (group A) and non-smoking (group B) hypertensive subjects. Assessment of plasma ET-1 concentration in group A and B and evaluation of influence of 30-day amlodipine therapy on plasma ET-1 concentration in group A and B. The examined group comprised 31 patients with essential hypertension (grade I and II). The result of the amlodipine therapy (5 mg/day) was statistically significant decrease in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in group B. In group A non-significant reduction of SBP and DBP was observed. In group A plasma ET-1 concentration was significantly higher than in group B. We noticed non-significant decrease in plasma ET-1 concentration in both groups. These results do not prove the hypothesis that worse hypotensive effectiveness of amlodipine applied in smokers may be connected with elevated ET-1 level. Despite of higher ET-1 concentrations in hypertensive smokers one could not observe significant influence of the therapy on changes of plasma ET-1 concentration in both groups.