Treatment of hypertension with valsartan combined with spironolactone

Preliminary observations were made to assess theantihypertensive efficacy and safety of treatmentwith valsartan plus spironolactone. Thirteenhypertensive patients were studied, 7 were males(54%), and 6 females (46%) with an age range from 61years to 83 years (mean: 74±7.1 years). Patients had amean daytime SBP / DBP of 164±9.2 / 99±9.5 mmHg.Echocardiography showed cardiac hypertrophy and mildcavity enlargement in all patients. After baselinemeasurements of HR, serum creatinine and electrolytes(potassium and sodium), patients received valsartan80 mg/day plus spironolactone 100 mg/day forconcomitant chronic heart failure due tohypertension. Study parameters were measured at the 30, 60, and 90 day of therapy. Mean ambulatory SBP/DBP monitoring, mean Holter heart rate, mean serumcreatinine, and mean serum electrolytes (sodium andpotassium) were recorded. These parameters did notshow statistically significant changes after 90 daysof follow up, except in one patient who had anincrease in serum potassium concentration from 4.3mmol/l to 5.8 mmol/l after 30 days of therapy. MeanBP was reduced up a maximum of 7%. No side effectwas seen in the study patients. Combination therapyvalsartan and spironolactone seemed to be aneffective and safe approach for older hypertensivepatients with mild concomitant chronic heart failure. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.