Arterial stiffness, wave reflections and myocardial protection: the REASON project

Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and systolic-diastolic pulse pressure (PP) may be superior predictors of cardiovascular risk than diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Treatments that selectively reduce SBP and PP may therefore be of particular interest. The REASON project was a randomised, double-blind study comparing the very low-dose combination perindopril 2mg/indapamide 0.625 mg (Per/Ind) versus atenolol 50mg for 12 months in 471 hypertensive patients. Both treatments produced similar reductions in brachial DBP, but Per/Ind produced greater reductions than atenolol in SBP (-23.1 +/- 15.6mm Hg vs -16.2 +/- 16.0mm Hg; p < 0.001) and PP (-9.9 +/- 12.4mm Hg vs -3.3 +/- 13.5mm Hg; p < 0.001). Patients with echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy at baseline (n = 124) showed greater reduction of left ventricular mass index with Per/Ind (-11.3 +/- 15.4 g/m(2)) than atenolol (-5.3 +/- 15.1 g/m(2); p = 0.031). Relative to atenolol, Per/Ind selectively targets SBP and PP, which could be important in reducing cardiovascular risk.