ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of valsartan on vascular endothelial function and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV)in patients with essential hypertension(EH).Methods Blood pressure,NO value and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity were determined and analyzed in 30 patients with essential hypertension before and after therapy of valsartan.Results Both blood pressure and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity wefe re-duced greafly(P<0.05 and P<0.01),while serum NO increased significantly(P<0.01)following valsartan thera-Py,and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity was well correlated to serum NO(r=-0.71,P<0.01).Conclusions Valsartan is not onlv effective in the control of blood pressure,but also effective in reveming the impaired endothelial function and artery elasticity in patients with essential hypertension,at the same time brachial-ankle pulse wave ve-locity is also good surrogate of endlothelial functional improvement induced by Valsartan therapy.