Add-On Use of Eplerenone Is Effective for Lowering Home and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Drug-Resistant Hypertension

Abstract

The authors aimed to investigate the blood pressure (BP)–lowering ability of eplerenone in drug-resistant hypertensive patients. A total of 57 drug-resistant hypertensive patients whose home BP was ≥135/85 mm Hg were investigated. The patients were randomized to either an eplerenone group or a control group and followed for 12 weeks. The efficacy was evaluated by clinic, home, and ambulatory BP monitoring. Urinary albumin, pulse wave velocity, and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) were also evaluated. Home morning systolic BP (148±15 vs 140±15 mm Hg) and evening systolic BP (137±16 vs 130±16 mm Hg) were significantly lowered in the eplerenone group (n=35) compared with baseline (both P