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TORONTO | The angiotensin receptor blocker eprosartan (Teveten) won out in a head-to-head comparison with the calcium channel blocker nitrendipine in hypertensive patients with a history of a cerebrovascular event. Eprosartan reduced secondary strokes and first-time cardiovascular events significantly more than nitrendipine, despite equal blood pressure lowering.

The results confirm the importance of blood pressure lowering in patients following a stroke or transient ischemic attack and suggest angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may play an important role in the management of these patients.

"I think in this population this is one of the clearest demonstrations we've seen of differences in bottom-line effectiveness in the setting of comparable blood pressure lowering," said Dr. Ross Feldman, a cardiologist and professor of physiology and pharmacology at the University of Western Ontario and deputy scientific director of the Robarts Research Institute in London.

The original article can be found at: http://www.medicalpost.com/mpcontent/article.jsp?content=20050613_211231_3976

The original article can found in the Media Doctor archives.

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what we said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

This article reports the results of a German and Austrian study called MOSES (morbidity and mortality after stroke, eprosartan compared with nitrendipine for secondary prevention). The trial involved 1,352 hypertensive patients who had suffered a cerebrovascular event in the two years prior to the onset of the trial.

The article's main flaw is the lack of any absolute numbers in reporting the treatment benefits, thus denying physicians real insight into the magnitude of the effects. The harms associated with the treatment are mentioned but only briefly and without detail. Additionally, there was no mention of possible conflicts of interest among quoted sources and no attempt at independent corroboration,

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