Background: A major problem in the treatment of human hypertension is the late diagnosis
of hypertension and, hence, the delayed start of treatment. Very often, hypertension has existed
for a long time and cardiac damage has already developed. Therefore, we tested whether late-
onset antihypertensive treatment is effective in lowering blood pressure (BP) and in reducing or
even preventing left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis. Methods: Twenty-one male 60-week-old
spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were included. Fourteen rats received oral treatment with
captopril (CAP) either as monotherapy or combined with nifedipine (CAP + NIF) over 22 weeks.
Seven untreated SHR served as controls. We examined the therapeutic effects on BP, heart weight
and histological and biochemical markers of left ventricular remodeling and fibrosis. Results: At
82 weeks of age, BP was reduced in the CAP and CAP + NIF groups by 44 and 51 mmHg, respectively
(p < 0.001), but not in untreated controls. Despite the late therapy start, cardiac hypertrophy and
fibrosis were attenuated compared to controls. Both treatments reduced heart weight by 1.2 mg/g
(25%, p = 0.001) and collagens I and III by 66% and 60%, respectively (p < 0.001), thus proving
nearly equivalent cardioprotective efficacy. Conclusion: These data clearly emphasize the benefit of
antihypertensive treatment in reducing BP and mitigating the development of cardiac amage even
when treatment is started late in life.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:90169 |
| Date | 27 February 2024 |
| Creators | Hawlitschek, Christina, Brendel, Julia, Gabriel, Philipp, Schierle, Katrin, Salameh, Aida, Zimmer, Heinz-Gerd, Rassler, Beate |
| Publisher | MDPI |
| Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion, doc-type:article, info:eu-repo/semantics/article, doc-type:Text |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | 2227-9059, 10.3390/biomedicines10081964 |
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