OBJECTIVETo study the effects of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), losartan and irbesartan, on blood pressure and serum uric acid (SUA) level in mild to moderate essential hypertensive patients complicating hyperuricaemia.

METHODSA total of 351 eligible patients were recruited in this multi-center, randomized, double-blind parallel clinical trial. After 1 week screening and a 2 week single-blinded placebo wash-out period, patients were randomly assigned to receive losartan 50 mg (n=76) or irbesartan 150 mg (n=175) once daily for 4 weeks, followed by a double-dose for another 4 weeks in patients whose seated DBP were >or=90 mm Hg or SBP>or=140 mm Hg at the end of 4 weeks. The SUA concentration and blood pressure were measured at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks post therapy.

RESULTSThree hundred and twenty-five patients completed the study (162 in the losartan group and 163 in the irbesartan group). Both groups were well matched for baseline clinical characteristics and demographics. SUA was significant reduced in losartan group (430.93 micromol/L vs 372.35 micromol/L, P<0.0001), but not in Irbesartan group (430.46 micromol/L vs 420.67 micromol/L, P>0.05) 8 weeks post therapy compared to baseline level. Blood pressure was significantly and equally reduced in both groups after 8 weeks treatment compared to baseline level (P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONLosartan is an optimum choice of medication for patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension complicating hyperuricemia.