Coronary angioplasty with or without stent implantation for acute myocardial infarction. Stent Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Coronary-stent implantation is frequently performed for treatment of acute myocardial infarction. However, few studies have compared stent implantation with primary angioplasty alone. METHODS: We designed a multicenter study to compare primary angioplasty with angioplasty accompanied by implantation of a heparin-coated Palmaz-Schatz stent. Patients with acute myocardial infarction underwent emergency catheterization and angioplasty. Those with vessels suitable for stenting were randomly assigned to undergo angioplasty with stenting (452 patients) or angioplasty alone (448 patients). RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) minimal luminal diameter was larger after stenting than after angioplasty alone (2.56+/-0.44 mm vs. 2.12+/-0.45 mm, P<0.001), although fewer patients assigned to stenting had grade 3 blood flow (according to the classification of the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction trial) (89.4 percent, vs. 92.7 percent in the angioplasty group; P=0.10). After six months, fewer patients in the stent group than in the angioplasty group had angina (11.3 percent vs. 16.9 percent, P=0.02) or needed target-vessel revascularization because of ischemia (7.7 percent vs. 17.0 percent, P<0.001). In addition, the combined primary end point of death, reinfarction, disabling stroke, or target-vessel revascularization because of ischemia occurred in fewer patients in the stent group than in the angioplasty group (12.6 percent vs. 20.1 percent, P<0.01). The decrease in the combined end point was due entirely to the decreased need for target-vessel revascularization. The six-month mortality rates were 4.2 percent in the stent group and 2.7 percent in the angioplasty group (P=0.27). Angiographic follow-up at 6.5 months demonstrated a lower incidence of restenosis in the stent group than in the angioplasty group (20.3 percent vs. 33.5 percent, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute myocardial infarction, routine implantation of a stent has clinical benefits beyond those of primary coronary angioplasty alone.

The ARTS study (Arterial Revascularization Therapies Study).

The rising costs of health care have forced policy makers to make choices, and new treatments are increasingly assessed in terms of the balance between additional costs and additional effects. The recent recognition that stenting has a major and long-lasting effect enhancing balloon PTCA procedure has made it imperative to compare in patients with multivessel disease the standard surgical procedure with multiple stenting in a large scale multinational and multicentre approach (19 countries, 68 sites). Selection and inclusion of patients is based on a consensus of the cardiac surgeon and interventional cardiologist on equal 'treatability' of patients by both techniques with analysis of clinical follow-up (event-free survival) on the short (30 day), medium (1 year), and long-term (3 and 5 year) with analysis of cost-effectiveness and quality of life (EuroQol and SF-36). Of the entire trial, the primary null hypothesis which needs to be rejected is that there will be no difference in event-free survival or effectiveness (E), at 1 year and also that the direct and indirect costs (C) per event-free year are not different between surgery or stenting. For this to become significant with a power of 90% one needs 1200 patients. Between April 97 and June 98, 1205 patients have been randomized with a monthly recruitment of 83 patients. Expected costs, effects and cost-effectiveness ratio (CE ratio) are: Stent high costs 2 VDStent high costs 3 VDStent low costs 2 VDStent low costs 3 VDCABG costs (C)$19.297$24.566$16.638$20.456$21.350 effects (E)81%81%81%81%88% CE ratio$23.876$30.397$20.586$25.322$24.348 Clinically, stenting is not expected to be more effective than CABG, but should be cost effective in both the 2- and 3-VD group when using the lower cost estimate and in the 2 VD group when using the higher cost assumptions.

[Comparison between the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II antagonists]. / Comparaison des effets des inhibiteurs de l'enzyme de conversion et des antagonistes de l'angiotensine II.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays an important role in blood pressure regulation and fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) were the first of the RAAS blocking agents to be widely used in the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, another class of pharmacological blockers of the RAAS, have more recently been shown to be safe and useful in hypertension and perhaps also in heart failure. This review deals with the similarities and differences between these two classes of drugs with particular emphasis on the effects of the drugs on the heart, the blood vessels, the kidney (role of the drugs as nephroprotective), the brain, the hormonal profile and finally the potential adverse effects. The place of angiotensin II antagonists in congestive heart failure remains to be more precisely defined.

Placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study of intravenous enalaprilat efficacy and safety in acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

BACKGROUND: Converting enzyme inhibitors meet most of the criteria required to be used in acute pulmonary edema. However, they could also induce deleterious effects on renal function and electrolytes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single intravenous 2-hour infusion of enalaprilat (1 mg) after an acute pulmonary edema. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study performed in 20 congestive heart failure patients (New York Heart Association class III or IV). Systemic and regional hemodynamic parameters, biological parameters, and blood gases were measured before and repeatedly after the onset of infusion. Compared with placebo, enalaprilat decreased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (-37% versus -10%, P = .001), diastolic and mean systemic blood pressures (-21% versus 0%, P = .009, and -18% versus -1%, P = .026, respectively), diastolic and mean pulmonary blood pressures (-21% versus -8%, P = .040; -18% versus -9%, P = .046), and brachial and renal resistances (-44% versus -14%, P = .017, and -22% versus -2%, P = .014, respectively); increased brachial and renal blood flows (+77% versus +8%, P = .036, and +12% versus 0%, P = .043, respectively), arterial oxygen tension (+2% versus -16%, P = .041), and arterial oxygen saturation (+1% versus -2%, P = .045); and tended to decrease rate-pressure product (-19% versus -7%, P = .076), increase brachial artery diameter (+13% versus 0%, P = .081), and improve intrapulmonary shunt (-18% versus +16%, P = .080). Enalaprilat did not affect cardiac output or carotid or hepatosplanchnic hemodynamics. CONCLUSIONS: Early administration of enalaprilat is effective and well tolerated in acute pulmonary edema.

Effects of losartan on renal function in patients with essential hypertension.

We examined the renal hemodynamic modifications induced by a selective angiotensin II (AII) AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, in 10 patients with essential hypertension. In this single-blind study, renal hemodynamic parameters were determined twice (patients were their own controls) first after a 15-day single-blind placebo run-in period and again after a 1-month losartan period. The dosage of losartan was 50 mg/day. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR, inulin clearance), renal plasma flow [RPF; para-aminohippurate (PAH) clearance], microalbuminuria, sodium excretion, proximal sodium tubular reabsorption (lithium clearance), and acid uric metabolism were measured. After 1-month losartan treatment, systolic and diastolic BP (SBP, DBP) decreased significantly throughout the 210-min recording whereas heart rate (HR) was unchanged. GFR (100 +/- 19 vs. 96 +/- 17 ml/min/1.73 m2) and RPF (471 +/- 118 vs. 468 +/- 108 ml/ min/1.73 m2) were not altered by losartan. Rather than occurrence of any modification in filtration fraction (FF), a significant decrease in microalbuminuria was evident (57 +/- 77 vs. 40 +/- 59 mg/24 h, p < 0.05). Urinary sodium excretion was not modified, but an almost significant (p = 0.07) decrease in proximal sodium reabsorption was observed (72.9 +/- 7.7 vs. 68.1 +/- 6.4% of filtered sodium). The increase in renal uric clearance accounted for the significant decrease in serum uric acid (195 +/- 49 vs. 183 +/- 43 microM; p < 0.05). After 1-month losartan treatment, renal function was well preserved; the decrease in uric acid may be of clinical interest when adjuvent diuretic therapy is required.

The arterial wall: a new pharmacological and therapeutic target.

In recent years, two key concepts having numerous interrelationships were advanced for the understanding of various cardiovascular diseases: the "endothelial dysfunction" and the "arterial remodelling". Both endothelial dysfunction and arterial remodelling occur in various pathologies including essential hypertension, heart failure, atherosclerosis, restenosis after angioplasty, and pulmonary hypertension, and have modified the therapeutic approach by offering new pharmacological targets: specific receptors not only at the site of the vascular smooth muscle cells but also on the endothelial cells, growth factors that stimulate proliferation of smooth muscle, and receptors and enzymes of the extra-cellular matrix. Among the various substances under research, the present review will discuss angiotensin II receptor antagonists, endothelin receptor antagonists, nitrates-NO donors, potassium channel activators, and substances interfering with proteoglycans and other components of the extra-cellular matrix.

Absence of a losartan interaction with renal lithium excretion in the rat.

1. The interaction of losartan, a non-peptide specific AT1 receptor antagonist with the renal handling of lithium was analysed in conscious normotensive Wistar rats and compared with the known increase in renal tubular lithium reabsorption induced by the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin. 2. The rats were treated for five days with losartan (10 mg kg-1 day-1, orally), indomethacin (2.5 mg kg-1 day-1, intramuscularly) or their solvents. Lithium chloride (16.7 mg kg-1, i.p.) was given as a single dose on the fifth day; renal functions were then measured. 3. Indomethacin, in the absence of any effect on creatinine clearance, increased renal fractional lithium reabsorption and led to an increase in plasma lithium levels. 4. Losartan did not modify renal lithium handling and its plasma level. No change was observed in renal lithium clearance, the quantity of filtered lithium or the fractional reabsorption of the metal. As expected, losartan had no effect on systolic blood pressure in normotensive rats. 5. In conclusion, our results indicate that losartan, when given orally in the rat at a dose of 10 mg kg-1 day-1 over five days, does not modify renal lithium handling. They suggest that blockade of the angiotensin II receptors does not interfere with renal lithium reabsorption, which occurs mainly at a proximal tubular site.

A randomized comparison of the effect of four antihypertensive monotherapies on the subjective quality of life in previously untreated asymptomatic patients: field trial in general practice. The OCAPI Study Group. Optimiser le Choix d'un Anti-hypertenseur de Première Intention.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the equivalence of four antihypertensive treatments in patients with mild-to- moderate hypertension, and to compare the effects of those drugs on the subjective quality of life and clinical safety. DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS: 653 patients aged > or = 18 years with untreated hypertension were randomly allocated to receive a combination of two diuretics (altizide and spironolactone), a beta-blocker (bisoprolol), a calcium antagonist (verapamil), or an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (enalapril). Follow-up lasted for 1 year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A composite outcome of the following measures was used to define success: attendance at the 12-month visit; at least nine supine DBP measurements during the study; and median supine DBP < 90 mmHg and a reduction of at least 10 mmHg compared with the baseline value. Failure was defined as one or more of those criteria not being fulfilled. Equivalence was concluded if the 95% confidence interval for the success rates differed between two groups by less than +/- 10%. Clinical safety and subjective quality of life were also assessed. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in the change in DBP or systolic blood pressure were observed between the groups. The success rates were 43.9, 42.0, 32.5 and 43.9% in diuretic, beta-blocker, calcium antagonist and ACE inhibitor groups, respectively. Equivalence between the treatments could not be concluded, although analysis with a larger equivalence interval showed that some comparisons indicated equivalence. Significant improvement in satisfaction was observed for certain items for subjective quality of life at 1 month in the calcium antagonist treatment group, and significant differences in the responses to the clinical safety questionnaire were observed after 1-month follow-up in calcium antagonist and beta-blocker groups. Differences were no longer significant after 9 months. CONCLUSIONS: These results do not provide evidence on the basis of efficacy of blood pressure lowering or ability to increase short-term (1-year) safety and quality of life favouring any particular treatment among the studied drugs for newly diagnosed patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.

Antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of once daily losartan potassium compared with captopril in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: Losartan potassium, an orally active, highly selective AT1 angiotensin II receptor inhibitor, effectively reduces blood pressure by direct receptor blockade, thereby lessening the likelihood of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor-associated side effects such as dry cough or possibly angioedema. STUDY DESIGN: In this multinational, double-blind, randomized, parallel study, the efficacy and tolerability of once-daily losartan (50 mg) versus once-daily ACE inhibitor (captopril; 50 mg) was evaluated in 163 patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Non-responders after a 6-week treatment period had the dosage doubled for both study drugs until the end of study (week 12). RESULTS: Mean reductions in trough sitting diastolic blood pressure were significantly greater in the losartan group at week 6 (7.8 mmHg) and week 12 (9.1 mmHg) than in the captopril group (5.2 and 5.7 mmHg, respectively). Losartan and captopril were well tolerated. Headache was the most common adverse event reported in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that a once-daily administration of losartan was significantly more effective in this study in lowering sitting diastolic blood pressure than once-daily administration of captopril in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Both losartan and captopril regimes were well tolerated.

[Comparison of the efficacy of enalapril + hydrochlorothiazide and captopril + hydrochlorothiazide combinations in mild-to-moderate arterial hypertension by ambulatory measurement of blood pressure]. / Comparaison de l'efficacité des associations énalapril + hydrochlorothiazide et captopril + hydrochlorothiazide parmesure ambulatoire de la pression artérielle sur l'hypertension artérielle légère à modérée.

This two-centre trial compared the efficacy of combinations of enalapril + hydrochlorothiazide (E + H) and captopril + hydrochlorothiazide (C + H) on mild-to-moderate hypertension, after a two-week placebo period, in 26 patients with mild-to-moderate HT (DBP between 95 and 114 mmHg) not controlled by previous treatment, randomized under double-blind conditions into two groups for two 4-week crossover treatment periods separated by a 4-week wash-out period. One group received E + H (20 mg/12.5 mg) followed by C + H (50 mg/25 mg) and the other group received C + H (50/25) followed E + H (20/12.5), once a day. The efficacy of the two treatments was evaluated by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) at the start of the study and after each treatment period. Plasma renin activity, aldosterone and angiotensin converting enzyme were assayed under the same conditions. Analysis was based on 26 cases, as none of the patients were withdrawn from the trial. No difference was observed between the two groups in terms of the main biometric and laboratory characteristics. Blood pressure evaluated by ABPM and intermittently was not significantly different between the two groups at the time of inclusion in the study. On intermittent Bp determinations, E + H and C + H decreased diastolic and systolic blood pressure, with no significant difference between the two treatments. On ABPM, the two treatments significantly decreased mean systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure during the diurnal, nocturnal and circadian periods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Evaluation of lisinopril and lisinopril-hydrochlorothiazide combination in mild to moderate arterial hypertension]. / Evaluation du lisinopril et de l'association lisinopril-hydrochlorothiazide dans l'hypertension artérielle légère à modérée. Groupe de Travail Prinzide.

The main objective of this multicenter study was to compare the efficacy of an increase in dose and of a synergic combination in the 68 patients out of 126 (54%) with hypertension (DBP between 95 and 120 mm Hg after 2 weeks of placebo) who did not respond (DBP > or = 95 mmHg) to a 4-week treatment of 20 mg per day of lisinopril. Patients were randomized to receive a 4-week double-blind treatment of either 40 mg per day of lisinopril or the combination of 20 mg of lisinopril and 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide per day. Mean reductions of systolic (inter-group comparison: p = 0.08) and diastolic BP (p = 0.006) as well as the proportion of responders (82% versus 45%, p < or = 0.01) were greater with the lisinopril-hydrochlorothiazide combination than with 40 mg of lisinopril. Tolerance was good in the 3 groups. The administration of a synergic combination is justified when hypertension is not controlled by a monotherapy.

[Evaluation of the antihypertensive efficacy of lisinopril and captopril associated with hydrochlorothiazide by ambulatory measurement of arterial pressure]. / Evaluation de l'efficacité antihypertensive du lisinopril et du captopril associés à l'hydrochlorothiazide par mesure ambulatoire de la pression artérielle.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, particularly in terms of the 24-hour cover, and the safety of lisinopril 20 mg + hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg 5L/HCTZ) and captopril 50 mg + hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg (C/HCTZ) in patients with essential HT requiring two-agent therapy. Twenty patients with a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between 95 and 120 mmHg after 2 weeks of placebo were randomised to receive, under double-blind conditions, either L/HCTZ or C/HCTZ as a single daily dose for 4 weeks. Clinical examination, laboratory tests and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) were performed at the end of the placebo and active treatment periods. L/HCTZ and C/HCTZ significantly lowered SBP and DBP on occasional recordings and on ABPM. The mean fall in blood pressure on ABPM (SBP, DBP, mean of 24-hour recording, diurnal and nocturnal) at 4 weeks was greater with L/HCTZ than with C/HCTZ. Both treatments were effective for 24 hours and did not alter the circadian cycle. The clinical and laboratory safety was good. The blood pressure figures obtained by ABPM were lower than on occasional recordings, emphasising the value of this technique in the evaluation of a patient's poor response to antihypertensive treatment.

Lisinopril versus atenolol: decrease in systolic versus diastolic blood pressure with converting enzyme inhibition.

In a multicenter, parallel, double-blind study, lisinopril, a new converting enzyme inhibitor, was compared with atenolol in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension. Four hundred ninety patients were randomized to once-a-day treatment with lisinopril 20 mg or atenolol 50 mg for 4 weeks, and the doses of lisinopril or atenolol were increased at 4-week intervals up to 80 mg or 200 mg, respectively, if sitting diastolic blood pressure (SDBP) was not well controlled. Lisinopril and atenolol reduced SDBP to a similar extent. All reductions from baseline in sitting diastolic and systolic blood pressure were significant (p less than 0.01). Lisinopril produced a significantly greater reduction (p less than 0.01) in sitting systolic blood pressure (SSBP) than atenolol. The predominant reduction in SSBP could not be explained on the basis of age, race, or severity of hypertension. It is suggested that the increase in arterial compliance reported for converting enzyme inhibitors could explain the predominant decrease in systolic blood pressure.

[Reference values of ambulatory arterial pressure in activity and during the night. Multicenter study of 394 normotensive subjects at rest]. / Valeurs de référence de la tension artérielle ambulatoire d'activité et de nuit. Etude multicentrique de 394 sujets normotendus au repos.

The blood pressure pattern and variability were assessed in a population of 394 normotensive subjects (OMS) stratified by age (20 to 75 years) and sex. Ambulatory blood pressure measurements were performed with an automatic device (Spacelabs 5200) every 15 min. from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m., and every 30 min. from 0 a.m. to 6 a.m. The analysis was effected during normal daily activities (from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and during night (from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.). Blood pressure levels were higher in males than females. During daytime and nighttime, diastolic blood pressure rose with age until 59 years while SBP was not affected, except for the females older than 60 years. After this age, diastolic blood pressure decreased. No epidemiological study has provided a measure of the cardiovascular risk related to ambulatory blood pressure, so that we were unable to define true normal values. However, reference population values provided from two statistical methods: limit of the 95th upper confidence interval for the mean of limit of the 90th percentile value for the total data. These blood pressure distributions according to age and sex may allow a better approach to borderline hypertensive patients.

Effects of xamoterol on sodium excretion in volunteers.

Xamoterol has been shown to reduce the frequency of oedema and lung crepitations in heart failure. We examined its effects on blood pressure and renal function in healthy volunteers. Systolic blood pressure rose, sodium and chloride excretion increased and there was a strong correlation in individual subjects between rises in systolic blood pressure and in sodium excretion. Although no changes in glomerular filtration rates were seen, changes sufficient to explain the observed rise in sodium excretion are well within the experimental error of this study. Xamoterol may increase sodium excretion by an action on renal haemodynamics.

Influence of treatment by betaxolol on the renal response to postural changes in moderate hypertension.

Assumption of upright posture is known to be associated with significant variations in renal function, which are thought to be mediated through the stimulation of the renin angiotensin system. The effect of an eight-week treatment with betaxolol, a selective beta-blocker, was studied in patients with moderate hypertension and normal renal function. Betaxolol induced the expected changes in systemic hemodynamics and reduced supine plasma renin activity and aldosteronemia. The glomerular filtration rate showed no variation but the tubular reabsorption of sodium increased. The renal adaptation to postural changes (decrease in glomerular filtration rate, increase in sodium reabsorption and in plasma renin activity) was unaffected by treatment. It is concluded that betaxolol does not impair the renal response to a physiological stimulus such as change in posture.

Myocardiotoxicity of 5 fluorouracil.

We report a case of specific myocardiotoxicity due to 5 F.U. not previously described in man. A 41-year-old man was admitted to the ICU for heart and renal failure, appearing 24 h after 5 days treatment with 5 F.U. and cis-platinum. Dopamine was necessary to maintain blood pressure. Two-D echocardiography and a right heart catheterisation confirmed the alteration of myocardial contractility. After 2 weeks a complete cardiac recovery occurred.

The prognosis of renal vein thrombosis: a re-evaluation of 27 cases.

Twenty-seven patients with renal vein thrombosis were retrospectively studied to evaluate their long-term prognosis and relevant prognostic factors. Twenty-four patients presented with a nephrotic syndrome, and 15 had renal impairment (8 acute; 7 moderate). Ten patients had a previous history of proteinuria, and 14 of nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy performed in 20 patients, of whom 19 were nephrotic, showed membranous glomerulonephritis in 14, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in three, minimal change glomerulonephritis in two, and periarteritis nodosa in one. Renal vein thrombosis was angiographically proven in all patients and was bilateral in 18, localised to the left renal vein in seven, and to the right in two. Thrombosis of the inferior vena cava was associated in seven patients. Ten patients were treated by anticoagulants alone, nine by surgical thrombectomy, seven by thrombolysis, and two did not receive any specific treatment. One patient underwent successively thrombectomy and then thrombolysis. Eleven patients died within the first 6 months, mainly from haemorrhagic complications (n = 5) or severe sepsis (n = 2). Survivors were followed up from 6 months to 19 years. Nephrotic syndrome improved or even disappeared in 12 patients, and renal function did not worsen throughout the follow-up in any patients. The main prognostic factors were initial renal function and type of nephropathy: patients with membranous glomerulonephritis had a significantly better renal function and a lower mortality rate than patients with other nephropathies. Initial renal insufficiency was significantly associated with a poor prognosis. There was no advantage, in terms of survival, kidney function and nephrotic syndrome, of either thrombectomy or thrombolysis over anticoagulants alone, despite two complete venous recanalisations after thrombolysis. Accordingly, patients with renal vein thrombosis from membranous glomerulonephritis should be treated by anticoagulants alone, since the long-term prognosis of this disease seems unaffected by intercurrent renal vein thrombosis. With respects to the risk-to-benefit ratio, thrombectomy should be avoided and thrombolysis considered only in patients with initial acute renal failure from acute renal vein thrombosis.

[Sports and blood pressure: association in a population of wage-earners]. / Sport et tension artérielle: association dans une population de salariés.

In a cross-sectional epidemiological survey, we examined the association between the practice of sports and blood pressure (BP). The study included 3,388 male employees (representing 90.1% of the target population) who were questioned about their habitual sports activity, in terms of average duration per week and intensity. The proportion of subjects who stated to engage in sports activity decreased with age, from 50.9% in the age class 20-29 years to 16.4% in the age class 50-59 years. We found a negative relationship between both systolic and diastolic BP and the weekly duration of sports activity. However this association increased with age and reached the statistical significance only in the age classes 40-49 years and 50-59 years (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.001, respectively). Similar results were obtained when intensity of sports was used instead of duration. In order to test the independence of the observed association, the duration of sports activity (hours/week) was included as an independent variable in a multiple linear regression analysis, along with the following potential confounders: age, Quetelet index, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, heart rate, and level of education. In this analysis the sports-BP relationship was considerably attenuated or entirely disappeared. It remained statistically significant only in the age class 50-59 (p less than 0.01 for systolic BP an p less than 0.05 for diastolic BP). Our results support those of others showing a modest beneficial effect of leisure time physical exercise on BP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)