The effect of valsartan and captopril on lipid parameters in patients withtype II diabetes mellitus and nephropathy

The study compared valsartan 80 mg or 160 mg o.d. with captopril 25 mg t.i. d. or placebo on plasma lipids in normotensive and treated hypertensive pat ients with type II diabetes and microalbuminuria. One hundred and twenty-tw o adult outpatients were randomised to receive either valsartan 80 mg or 16 0 mg, captopril 25 mg or placebo for 360 days. Changes from baseline to end point in plasma lipid parameters were measured. The primary criterion for t olerability was the incidence of adverse events. All treatment groups showe d minor changes in lipid parameters. Triglyceride increased by 2.7% (valsar tan 160 mg) to 9.1% (placebo). Total cholesterol decreased under valsartan 80 mg, while other groups showed increases of up to 0.031 mmol/l. Decreases in total cholesterol (p=0.018), apolipoprotein B (p=0.042) and apolipoprot ein Al (p=0.025), were significant for the comparison of 80 mg valsartan an d captopril. Valsartan 80 mg or 160 mg o.d. does not cause deleterious chan ges in the diabetic lipid profile and, unlike captopril, is not associated with dry cough.