Use of antihypertension agents for the suppression of arterial pulse pressure waveforms in patients with intracranial aneurysms

Object. Patients with intracranial aneurysms tend toward raised blood pressure and abnormal pulse pressure profiles. The authors have investigated the influence of three antihypertension agents on blood pressure and pulse pressure waveforms in patients with known intracranial aneurysms, with a view to assessing the potential benefits of longterm antihypertension therapy on the progression of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Methods. Nineteen patients with a mean age of 56 years (range 38-76 years) were recruited for this study. All patients had confirmed intracranial aneurysms. A double-blind, randomized, crossover study was performed using perindopril, irbesartan, isosorbide mononitrate, and a placebo. Blood pressure and pulse pressure waveforms were assessed at the end of each 4-week treatment period. Perindopril and irbesartan were well tolerated. For all measured parameters except heart rate (p = 0.03), no significant difference between baseline and placebo was identified. Each drug when compared with placebo reduced peripheral arterial blood pressure. Perindopril significantly decreased mean blood pressure by 10 mm Hg (p = 0.004), irbesartan by 9 mm Hg (p = 0.004), and isosorbide mononitrate by 13 mm Hg (p = 0.005). The administration of each drug effected a significant reduction in the carotid artery augmentation index (AIX) compared with baseline values (perindopril p = 0.01, irbesartan p = 0.0002, and isosorbide mononitrate p = 0.03). There was also a significant difference in the AIX between irbesartan and the placebo (p = 0.05). Compared with the placebo, there was a significant difference in AIX (adjusted for heart rate) following the administration of irbesartan (p = 0.003) and isosorbide mononitrate (p = 0.01), but not with perindopril (p = 0.17). Conclusions. Irbesartan appears to be the most effective treatment for the combined suppression of blood pressure and AIX in patients with intracranial aneurysms and has a high degree of patient tolerance.