Espironolactone improves flow-mediated vasodilatation in subjects with the metabolic syndrome.

Introduction: The role of aldosterone in the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome (MS)-related endothelial dysfunction has been the subject of recent research.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of aldosterone blockade on flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and on renal and metabolic parameters of patients with the MS.

Methods: 19 MS subjects underwent clinical examination, laboratory work-up (serum lipid profile, glucose and insulin; creatinine clearance; microalbuminuria investigation), ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), and FMD analysis before and after 16 weeks of aldosterone blockade with spironolactone.