Treatment of chronic heart failure in Germany: a retrospective database study.

Background: Adherence to treatment guidelines affects outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). We investigated patient pathways and treatment patterns for HF in Germany.

Methods: This retrospective study used anonymous healthcare claims data from the German Health Risk Institute on individuals with statutory health insurance.

Epidemiology of heart failure in Germany: a retrospective database study.

Background: Chronic heart failure (HF) is associated with significant healthcare expenditure, morbidity, and mortality. This study investigated the epidemiology of HF in Germany.

Methods: This retrospective study used anonymous healthcare claims data from the German Health Risk Institute on individuals with statutory health insurance.

Impact of supportive measures on drug adherence in patients with essential hypertension treated with valsartan: the randomized, open-label, parallel group study VALIDATE.

Objective: The majority of treated hypertensive patients do not achieve target blood pressure (BP) levels of less than 140/90 mmHg. One key reason is inadequate adherence with the prescribed drug regimen. Dosing regimens are either not executed as prescribed (noncompliance) or patients stop taking the medication (nonpersistence).

Valsartan in combination with lisinopril versus the respective high dose monotherapies in hypertensive patients with microalbuminuria: the VALERIA trial.

Objectives: Microalbuminuria is known as an independent predictor for stroke, myocardial infarction, and death. The purpose of the VALERIA trial was a comparison of the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of valsartan and lisinopril with valsartan and lisinopril high-dose monotherapy in patients with hypertension and microalbuminuria.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, interventional, parallel-group study.

Effective and safe reduction of blood pressure with the combination of amlodipine 5 mg and valsartan 160 mg in hypertensive patients not controlled by calcium channel blocker monotherapy.

Introduction: The addition of an angiotensin II receptor blocker to calcium channel blocker-based antihypertensive therapy may be associated with enhanced efficacy and reduced risk of adverse events.

Methods: This 8-week, open-label, single-arm trial evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of the combination of amlodipine and valsartan in patients not responding adequately to treatment with amlodipine or felodipine alone. Patients aged > or =18 years with moderate essential hypertension (defined as mean sitting systolic blood pressure [MSSBP] > or =160 and <180 mmHg) were treated for 4 weeks with once-daily amlodipine 5 mg or felodipine 5 mg.

Efficacy and Safety of Valsartan 160mg/Hydrochlorothiazide 25mg Combination in Patients with Hypertension not Adequately Controlled by Valsartan 160mg/Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg.

Background And Objective: Hypertension guidelines emphasise the need to treat high blood pressure (BP) early and aggressively, giving fixed-dose combinations special consideration. Hitherto, it has not been assessed in a sequential way whether hypertensive patients with inadequately controlled hypertension with an angiotensin II receptor antagonist/hydrochlorothiazide combination benefit from a dose increase of the diuretic. We investigated the efficacy and safety of valsartan 160mg/hydrochlorothiazide 25mg combination in patients with hypertension that was not adequately controlled by valsartan 160mg/hydrochlorothiazide 12.

Valsartan and retinal endothelial function in elderly hypertensive patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of short-term treatment with the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan on retinal endothelial function in elderly patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

Methods: In an open-labeled study, 20 elderly, male patients with arterial hypertension (WHO I-II) were treated with the ARB valsartan (80-160 mg once daily) over 8 days. Central retinal artery perfusion at rest and during flicker light stimulation was measured before and after treatment using pulsed wave Doppler sonography.

Prognostic value of the QRS duration in patients with heart failure: a subgroup analysis from 24 centers of Val-HeFT.

Background: This study investigated whether QRS duration (QRS D) is a prognostic indicator in patients with heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] classes II-IV).

Methods And Results: This subgroup analysis included 248 patients with heart failure recruited in the German centers of the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT). Mean age was 60 years, mean NYHA class was 2.

The role of nitric oxide in the regulation of glomerular haemodynamics in humans.

Background: According to experimental data, the afferent glomerular arteriole is particularly under control of nitric oxide (NO). By use of pharmacological manoeuvres, we examined whether this finding holds true in the human renal circulation in vivo.

Methods: Seventy-seven volunteers (aged 50+/-9 years) with mild to moderate essential hypertension (n = 57) or arterial normotension (n = 20) were examined.

Ca2+-dependent modulation of single human cardiac L-type calcium channels by the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporine.

Objective: Activity of single L-type calcium channels (LTCC) is enhanced in human failing myocardium (Circulation 98 (1998) 969.), most likely due to impaired dephosphorylation. Protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin) has recently been shown to be involved in heart failure pathophysiology.

Direct comparison of the effects of valsartan and amlodipine on renal hemodynamics in human essential hypertension.

Background: To elucidate the renoprotective mechanism of AT(1)-receptor blockers, we compared the effects of the AT(1)-receptor blocker valsartan with those of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine on renal hemodynamics and microcirculation.

Methods: A total of 58 patients (50.2 +/- 9.

Effect of AT1 receptor blockade on endothelial function in essential hypertension.

Background: Angiotensin II adversely affects endothelial function and NO availability. We analyzed the effect of AT(1) receptor blockade on endothelium-dependent vasodilation and basal nitric oxide (NO) production and release in hypertensive patients.

Methods And Results: Sixty patients (53 +/- 10 years) with essential hypertension were randomized to 6 weeks of double-blind therapy with either valsartan (80 mg), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (25 mg), or placebo once daily.

Effects of selective angiotensin II receptor blockade on sympathetic nerve activity in primary hypertensive subjects.

Objective: The role of the renin-angiotensin system in the regulation of sympathetic nervous activity in human hypertension was evaluated in patients with moderate primary hypertension. For that purpose, the effects of selective angiotensin II (ANG II) receptor blockade by valsartan on sympathetic outflow to the muscle vascular bed and hemodynamic parameters were examined. Results were compared with the effects of the peripherally acting calcium antagonist amlodipine.

Single-channel pharmacology of mibefradil in human native T-type and recombinant Ca(v)3.2 calcium channels.

To study the molecular pharmacology of low-voltage-activated calcium channels in biophysical detail, human medullary thyroid carcinoma (hMTC) cells were investigated using the single-channel technique. These cells had been reported to express T-type whole-cell currents and a Ca(v)3.2 (or alpha 1H) channel subunit.