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Comparative Study
. 2016 Aug;29(8):976-83.
doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpw016. Epub 2016 Apr 13.

Aldosterone Antagonists or Renin-Guided Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Hypertension: A Comparative Effectiveness Pilot Study in Primary Care

Brent M Egan  1 , Marilyn A Laken  2 , Susan E Sutherland  3 , Suparna Qanungo  2 , Douglas O Fleming  4 , Anne G Cook  5 , William H Hester  6 , Kelly W Jones  6 , Gerard C Jebaily  6 , Gregory T Valainis  7 , Charles F Way  8 , Mary Beth Wright  5 , Robert A Davis  3
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Aldosterone Antagonists or Renin-Guided Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Hypertension: A Comparative Effectiveness Pilot Study in Primary Care

Brent M Egan et al. Am J Hypertens. 2016 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Uncontrolled treatment-resistant hypertension (TRH), i.e., blood pressure (BP, mm Hg) ≥140/≥90mm Hg in and out of office on ≥3 different BP medications at optimal doses, is common and has a poor prognosis. Aldosterone antagonist (AA) and renin-guided therapy (RGT) are effective strategies for improving BP control in TRH but have not been compared.

Methods: A comparative effectiveness TRH pilot study of AA vs. RGT was conducted in 4 primary care clinics with 2 each randomized to AA or RGT. The primary outcome was change in clinic BP defined by means of 5 automated office BP values. Eighty-nine patients with apparent TRH were screened and 44 met criteria for true TRH.

Results: Baseline characteristics of 20 patients in the AA (70% Black, 45% female, mean age: 57.4 years) and 24 patients in RGT (79% Black, 50% female, 57.8 years) arms were similar with baseline BP 162±5/90±3 vs. 153±3/84±3, respectively, P = 0.11/0.20. BP declined to 144±5/86±4 in AA vs. 132±4/75±3 in RGT, P = 0.07/0.01; BP was controlled to JNC7 (Seventh Joint National Committee Report) goal in 25% vs. 62.5%, respectively, P < 0.01. Although BP changes from baseline, the primary outcome, were not different (-17.6±5.1/-4.0±3.0 AA vs. -20.4±3.8/-9.7±2.0 RGT, P = 0.65/0.10.), more BP medications were added with AA than RGT (+0.9±0.1 vs. +0.4±0.1 per patient, P < 0.01).

Conclusions: In this TRH pilot study, AA and RGT lowered BP similarly, although fewer additional medications were required with RGT. A larger comparative effectiveness study could establish the utility of these treatment strategies for lowering BP of uncontrolled TRH patients in primary care.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02167464.

Keywords: aldosterone antagonists; blood pressure; clinical effectiveness; renin-guided therapy; treatment-resistant hypertension..

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The process is depicted for identifying eligible subjects for the TRH pilot study comparing addition of an aldosterone antagonist and renin-guided therapy. Abbreviations: BP, blood pressure; PRA, plasma renin activity; TRH, treatment-resistant hypertension.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Blood pressure at baseline and at the final follow-up visit is shown for individuals in the aldosterone antagonist and renin-guided therapy arms of the TRH pilot study. Abbreviations: PRA, plasma renin activity; TRH, treatment-resistant hypertension.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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