Different effects of losartan and moxonidine on endothelial function during sympathetic activation in essential hypertension.

The aim of this study was to investigate: 1) the effects of treadmill exercise on plasma catecholamines and endothelin-1 (ET-1, a potent vasoconstrictor) levels in hypertensive patients; and 2) the impact of 1-month therapy with losartan as compared with moxonidine on catecholamine and ET-1 changes during exercise. Twenty-eight patients with essential hypertension were randomized in two groups: group A received losartan and group B received moxonidine for 1 month. Plasma catecholamines exhibited an almost 10-fold increase during exercise (p<0.