Spironolactone for poorly controlled hypertension in type 2 diabetes: conflicting effects on blood pressure, endothelial function, glycaemic control and hormonal profiles: conflicting effects on blood pressure, endothelial function, glycaemic control and hormonal profiles

K. Swaminathan, J. Davies, J. George, N. S. Rajendra, A. D. Morris, A. D. Struthers

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    61 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Aims/hypothesis Aldosterone antagonism improves endothelial function (and reduces deaths) in chronic heart failure. It is not known whether similar effects occur in other high-risk groups such as patients with diabetes and hypertension. We therefore assessed the full effects of aldosterone blockade in poorly controlled hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes, focussing on blood pressure, endothelial function, glycaemic control and key hormones.

    Methods We performed a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study on 50 patients with type 2 diabetes and treated but poorly controlled hypertension, comparing spironolactone versus placebo. Patients had their endothelial function assessed by standard forearm venous occlusion plethysmography.

    Results There was no significant improvement in endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in response to acetylcholine, despite highly significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, spironolactone significantly worsened glycaemic control, plasma angiotensin II and cortisol.

    Conclusions/Interpretation Spironolactone is highly effective in lowering blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes and poorly controlled hypertension on standard treatment, but does not improve vascular endothelial function in this group. We speculate that any tendency for the spironolactone-induced lowering of blood pressure to improve endothelial function is offset by its tendency to worsen glycaemic control and increase the levels of angiotensin II and even possibly cortisol.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)762-768
    Number of pages7
    JournalDiabetologia
    Volume51
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May 2008

    Keywords

    • aldosterone
    • blockade
    • cardiovascular
    • endothelium
    • glycaemic control
    • hormones
    • hypertension
    • type 2 diabetes
    • ANGIOTENSIN RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST
    • CONVERTING ENZYME-INHIBITOR
    • CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE
    • HEART-RATE-VARIABILITY
    • SMOOTH-MUSCLE-CELLS
    • FOREARM PLETHYSMOGRAPHY
    • CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE
    • RESISTANCE ARTERIES
    • II GENERATION
    • DYSFUNCTION

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