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(Circulation. 2002;106:e24.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.

Meeting Highlights

Highlights of the 51st Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology

James J. Ferguson, MD

From the St Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Texas Heart Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Correspondence to James J. Ferguson, MD, Cardiology Research, MC 1-191, Texas Heart Institute, PO Box 20345, Houston, TX 77225-0345. E-mail jferguson@heart.thi.tmc.edu

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

The following studies were presented at the 51st Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta, Ga, March 17–20, 2002.

Hypertension

LIFE (Losartan Intervention For Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension Study)
The Presenter:
Björn Dahlöf, MD, Göteborg University, Sweden

The Study:
A randomized, double-blind, parallel group study of losartan (a selective angiotensin I receptor blocker)–based versus atenolol-based therapy in 9193 patients with essential hypertension and ECG evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).¹ To base therapy (both up to a maximum of 100 mg), diuretics and other antihypertensive agents (excluding angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, other angiotensin receptor blockers, or ß-blockers) could be added. Study therapy was continued for 4 years; the primary end point was the composite of cardiovascular mortality, stroke, and myocardial infarction.

The Results:
The degree of blood pressure control was similar between groups. There were significantly fewer cardiovascular events in the losartan group (11% versus 13%, P=0.021), and the primary difference was a reduction in the number of strokes (5% versus 7%, P=0.001). Regression of LVH on the ECG was also significantly more frequent with losartan. Intriguingly, with losartan, there was a 25% reduction in the number of patients who developed diabetes, and in the subgroup of patients with diabetes, total mortality was reduced by 39%.

Summary:
In hypertensive patients with ECG evidence of LVH, outcomes with losartan are significantly better than with atenolol. This benefit is particularly manifested in patients with diabetes. It is also worth noting that the likelihood of developing diabetes was also reduced with losartan.

4E (Epleronone, Enalapril, and Eplerenone/Enalapril Combination Therapy in Patients With Left Ventricular Hypertrophy)
The Presenter:
Bertram Pitt, MD, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

The Study:
A double-blind, randomized parallel group . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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