We have demonstrated previously that inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) with enalapril and angiotensin II blockade with losartan improve acetylcholine-dependent endothelial function in resistance vessels of patients with Type II diabetes. It was therefore of interest to examine the effect of losartan on conduit vessel function in this group. The influence of losartan (50 mg daily for 4 weeks) on endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilator function was determined in 12 subjects with Type II diabetes using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover protocol. Conduit vessel endothelial function was assessed using high-resolution ultrasound and the brachial artery response to reactive hyperaemia (flow-mediated dilation; FMD); glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) was used as a non-endothelium-dependent dilator. Losartan administration significantly increased the FMD response from 5.2±0.7% (mean±S.E.M.) to 7.4±0.6% of vessel diameter (P < 0.05; paired t-test). There was no effect of losartan on the endothelium-independent responses to GTN (17.8±1.8% to 17.6±1.2%). Consistent with our previous findings in resistance vessels, administration of 50 mg of losartan daily improves NO-mediated dilation in the conduit vessels of subjects with Type II diabetes. Together with the findings that both ACE inhibition and angiotensin II blockade improve resistance vessel function in this group, it is likely that at least some of the beneficial effect is mediated through the angiotensin II/type 1 receptor pathway. A type 1 receptor antagonist seems a reasonable alternative to an ACE inhibitor to maintain conduit vessel endothelial function in Type II diabetic subjects.
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Research Article|
December 05 2000
Losartan, an angiotensin type I receptor antagonist, improves conduit vessel endothelial function in Type II diabetes
Craig CHEETHAM;
Craig CHEETHAM
*Department of Human Movement and Exercise Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6907, Western Australia, Australia
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Gerard O'DRISCOLL;
Gerard O'DRISCOLL
†Department of Cardiology, Royal Perth Hospital and West Australian Heart Research Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
‡Cardiac Transplant Unit, Royal Perth Hospital and West Australian Heart Research Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Kim STANTON;
Kim STANTON
§Endocrinology and Diabetic Unit, Royal Perth Hospital and West Australian Heart Research Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Roger TAYLOR;
Roger TAYLOR
†Department of Cardiology, Royal Perth Hospital and West Australian Heart Research Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
║Department of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6907, Western Australia, Australia
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Daniel GREEN
*Department of Human Movement and Exercise Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6907, Western Australia, Australia
†Department of Cardiology, Royal Perth Hospital and West Australian Heart Research Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
‡Cardiac Transplant Unit, Royal Perth Hospital and West Australian Heart Research Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Correspondence: Dr Daniel Green (e-mail [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
May 04 2000
Revision Received:
July 13 2000
Accepted:
September 07 2000
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society © 2001
2001
Clin Sci (Lond) (2001) 100 (1): 13–17.
Article history
Received:
May 04 2000
Revision Received:
July 13 2000
Accepted:
September 07 2000
Citation
Craig CHEETHAM, Gerard O'DRISCOLL, Kim STANTON, Roger TAYLOR, Daniel GREEN; Losartan, an angiotensin type I receptor antagonist, improves conduit vessel endothelial function in Type II diabetes. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 January 2001; 100 (1): 13–17. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs1000013
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