EFFECT OF LOSARTAN ON HEMATOLOGY AND HEMORHEOLOGY IN ELDERLY PATIENTSWITH ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION - A PILOT-STUDY

This small open study in elderly patients with essential hypertension investigated the effects of the angiotensin II AT(1) receptor antagoni st on red blood cell haematology and haemorheology. Administration of losartan over a 1-year period was not associated with a significant re duction in haemoglobin or plasma erythropoietin (EPO) concentrations a nd haemorheological indices remained unchanged. These findings are in contrast to similar studies with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) i nhibitors that have shown a significant reduction in erythropoietic ac tivity and a decrease in blood viscosity. Our results indicate therefo re that blocking the angiotensin II AT(1) receptor does not affect ery thropoiesis. Losartan has no adverse haemorheological effects and was associated with a small and statistically insignificant decrease in bl ood viscosity.