Aims: Endothelial function is characteristically impaired in patients with hypertension. Endothelial function was assessed in men and women with hypertension using a recently described, non-invasive method.
Methods: Twenty patients and 20 controls received salbutamol 400 microg and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) 500 microg in a two-way randomized, single-blind study. Effects on augmentation index (AIx) were assessed using pulse wave analysis (PWA).
Results: Responses (absolute AIx reduction and 95% confidence interval) to salbutamol were 8.4% (6.2, 10.6) and 8.3% (7.0, 9.6) in patients and controls, respectively, and those to GTN were 13.6% (10.8, 16.4) and 15.5% (13.0, 17.0), respectively.
Conclusions: Systemic arterial responses to endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilators are preserved in patients with mild, uncomplicated hypertension, indicating normal large arterial endothelial function.