Long-term use of angiotensin II receptor antagonists and calcium-channel antagonists in Algerian hypertensive patients: effects on metabolic and oxidative parameters.

The effects of calcium antagonists (amlodipine) and angiotensin II receptor antagonists (telmisartan) on lipid profile and oxidative markers were investigated in Algerian hypertensive patients. At the beginning and after 1 year of antihypertensive therapy, blood samples are collected for determination of biochemical parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine) and oxidative markers (malondialdehyde, carbonyl proteins, nitric oxide, superoxide anion, vitamin C, glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase). The results of this study indicate that telmisartan and amlodipine are effective antihypertensive agents in the treatment of hypertension because a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed in all hypertensive patients after 1 year of treatment. Our results show also that telmisartan and amlodipine treatments counteracted hypertension-dependent lipid abnormalities and oxidative stress. Telmisartan treatment appears to be more efficient than amlodipine treatment. In addition, telmisartan, which reversed all lipid and redox changes associated with hypertension, should be prescribed, especially in hypertensive patients with hypertriglyceridemia and with severe oxidative stress.