Comparative Effects of Irbesartan on Ambulatory and Office Blood Pressure

Abstract

OBJECTIVE—Irbesartan was renoprotective independently of its blood pressure-lowering effect in the Irbesartan in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Microalbuminuria (IRMA2) study. However, blood pressure was evaluated by trough office blood pressure (OBP), which may underestimate reductions in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP). In the present study, we evaluated 24-h blood pressure patterns in a subpopulation of the IRMA2 trial.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Type 2 diabetic patients (n = 43) with persistent microalbuminuria (as determined by repeated overnight measurements of urinary albumin excretion [UAE]) and hypertension who were included in the IRMA2 study at the Steno Diabetes Center were subjected to 24-h ABP (Takeda, TM2420) measurements before and 2 years after randomization to placebo (n = 15), irbesartan 150 mg daily (Irb150; n = 13), or irbesartan 300 mg daily (Irb300; n = 15).RESULTS—At baseline, the placebo, Irb150, and Irb300 groups were comparable: OBP: 157 ± 15/89 ± 7, 156 ±15/91 ± 11, and 159 ± 16/90 ± 9 mmHg (NS); 24-h ABP: 148 ± 13/83 ± 11, 148 ± 16/82 ± 7 and 147 ± 16/81 ± 10 mmHg (NS); and UAE (geometric mean with 95% CI): 43 (32–57), 46 (30–70), and 59 (42–85) μg/min (NS), respectively. We found that 2 years after randomization, OBP was significantly reduced in all three groups (by 11/7, 13/8, and 13/8 mmHg in the placebo, Irb150, and Irb300 groups, respectively), but that there were no significant differences among groups. Reductions in 24-h ABP were similar in the three groups (11/10, 5/7, and 7/8 mmHg, respectively; NS), as were reductions in day ABP (11/9, 7/7, and 8/9 mmHg, respectively; NS) and night ABP (4/11, 7/7, and 3/3 mmHg, respectively; NS). The reduction in UAE at the end of the study was 0% (−86 to 42), 38% (−14 to 66), and 73% (59 to 82), respectively (overall, P < 0.01).CONCLUSION—Irbesartan is renoprotective independently of its beneficial effect in lowering 24-h blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes and persistent microalbuminuria.