Assess if aliskiren is capable of enhancing vascular stiffness and endothelial function and compare theses effects and renin activity and concentration to those obtained with a calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and blood pressure not controlled by 100 mg per day of losartan.
Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are important risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Endothelial dysfunction and vascular rigidity are two pathophysiological mechanisms that may explain this relationship. Recent publications showed that both ACEi (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor) and ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker) were capable of improving vascular stiffness and endothelial function, and that these effects occurred despite blood pressure reduction. The major debate that persists is which drug to associate with ACEi or ARB to achieve blood pressure control in diabetic patients. Recent studies showed that even in patients under ACEi or ARB therapy there may be residual activity in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RASS). Direct renin inhibitors (DRI) are a new class of anti-hypertensive drugs that may complement the blockade of the RASS. Aliskiren was the first drug of this class that completed phase 3 studies and marketed in the 21th century. It's main advantage is that DRI may reduce angiotensin II and aldosterone synthesis without increasing renin levels. This study main objective is to assess if aliskiren is capable of enhancing vascular stiffness and endothelial function and compare theses effects to those obtained with a calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and blood pressure not controlled by 100 mg per day of losartan. Vascular stiffness and endothelial function will be measured by: pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation, peripheral arterial tonometry (EndoPat). Another main objective is to compare plasma renin activity and concentration between those groups.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
300 mg of aliskiren daily for 8 weeks.
Amlodipine 5 mg daily for 8 weeks.
Hospital Universitario Pedro Ernesto
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Vascular stiffness
Vascular stiffness will be measured by pulse wave velocity and augmentation index and compared between anlodipine and aliskiren.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Endothelial function
Access endothelial function by peripheral arterial tonometry and brachial flow-mediated vasodilation and compare it between anlodipine and aliskiren.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Renin activity and concentration
Access plasma renin activity and concentration and compare it between anlodipine and aliskiren.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Compare drug effects in office blood pressure measurements to those obtained by home blood pressure monitoring and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
Compare drug effects in office blood pressure measurements to those obtained by home blood pressure monitoring and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
Time frame: 8 weeks
Assess drugs effects in renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and correlate it to renin concentration/mass and plasmatic renin activity
Assess drugs effects in RAAS and correlate it to renin concentration/mass and plasmatic renin activity
Time frame: 8 weeks
Correlation of drug effects and uric acid plasmatic concentration
Correlation of drug effects and uric acid plasmatic concentration
Time frame: 8 weeks
Correlation of drug effects and glomerular filtration rate
Correlation of drug effects and glomerular filtration rate
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Time frame: 8 weeks
Correlation of drug effects and microalbuminuria
Correlation of drug effects and microalbuminuria
Time frame: 8 weeks
Correlation of drug effects and left ventricular mass and function (systolic and diastolic)
Correlation of drug effects and left ventricular mass and function (systolic and diastolic)
Time frame: 8 weeks