Anti-Inflammatory Actions of Valsartan in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female patients between 30 and 80 years old, inclusive * Controlled type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on stable treatment at least during the 4 weeks prior to visit 1 * Treated or untreated stage 1 (according to JNC VII Guidelines) or grade 1 (according to ESH/ESC 2003 Guidelines) hypertensive patients * For one stratum: angiographically proven CAD * Signed informed consent prior to any study procedure Exclusion Criteria: * Hypertension classified as stage 2 (or grade 2) or higher * Normotensive patients, i.e. patients who do not have a history of high blood pressure, and who are not receiving any antihypertensive medication * Treatment with more than 2 antihypertensive medications * Current treatment with ARBs * Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) \>8.5% at Visit 1 * Current treatment with glitazones * Myocardial infarction less than 3 months prior to Visit 1 * Total cholesterol \>7.8 mmol/l * Past diagnosis of any systemic inflammatory disease * Known or suspected contraindications, including history of allergy to angiotensin receptor blockers * History of hypertensive encephalopathy or cerebrovascular accident less than 1 year prior to Visit 1 * Known Keith-Wagener grade III or IV hypertensive retinopathy * History of heart failure * Second or third degree heart block without a pacemaker * Concomitant unstable angina pectoris * Concurrent potential life threatening arrhythmia or symptomatic arrhythmia * Clinically significant valvular heart disease * Evidence of hepatic disease as determined by any one of the following: ALT or AST values \> 2 x ULN at Visit 1, a history hepatic encephalopathy, a history of esophageal varices, or a history of portocaval shunt * Evidence of renal impairment as determined by any one of the following: serum creatinine \>1.25 x ULN at visit 1, a history of dialysis, or a history of nephritic syndrome * Sodium value \<132 mmol/L at Visit 1 * Serum potassium values \<3.5 mmol/L or \>5.5 mmol/L at visit 1 * Any surgical or medical condition which might alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion of any drug * Female patients who are not either post-menopausal for one year of surgically sterile, and who are not using effective contraceptive methods such as barrier method with spermicidal or an intra-uterine device. Oral contraceptive use or dermal implants as the only means of contraception are disallowed * Pregnant or lactating females * Any surgical or medical condition which, at the discretion of the investigator, place the patient at higher risk from his/her participation in the study, or are likely to prevent the patients from complying with the requirements of the study or completing the trial period * History of malignancy including leukemia and lymphoma within 5 years prior to Visit 1 * History of any severe, life threatening disease within the past five years * Any previous history of a systemic autoimmune disease * History of drug or alcohol abuse within the last two years * Participation in any investigational drug trial within one month prior to visit 1