In a nutshell
This article investigated the effect of alogliptin (Nesina) on blood pressure (BP) in patients with hypertension (HTN; high blood pressure) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).
The authors concluded that alogliptin was associated with improved blood sugar control, BP and arterial stiffness in these patients.
Some background
T2D is a disorder where the body does not use enough of the hormone insulin properly. This causes blood glucose (sugar) to rise. It is known that diabetes increases the risk of heart disease. One other condition associated with heart disease is HTN.
A type of drug used to control T2D is dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. They work by increasing insulin secretion which lowers blood sugar. Some studies showed that DPP-4 inhibitors may also lower BP in patients with T2D. Alogliptin is a type of DPP-4 inhibitor. It is not known what effect alogliptin has on BP in patients with HTN and T2D.
Methods & findings
The study involved 22 patients with HTN and T2D. Their BP and brachial-ankle pulse pressure (BAP; BP in the arm divided by the BP in the ankle) were measured before and 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment with alogliptin. BAP is a measurement of arterial stiffness. There was no change in HTN treatment during the study.
HbA1c (blood glucose control measure for the past 3 months) levels significantly decreased from 7% to 6.4% after 3 months and to 6.3% after 6 and 12 months. Systolic BP (pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts) significantly decreased from 137 mmHg to 127 mmHg after 3 months, 125 mmHg after 6 months and 120 mmHg after 12 months. Diastolic BP (pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes) significantly decreased from 79 mmHg to 74 mmHg after 3, 6, and 12 months. The BAP also significantly decreased from 1947 cm/second to 1774 cm/second after 3 months, 1856 cm/second after 6 months and 1756 cm/second after 12 months.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that alogliptin was associated with improved blood sugar control, BP and arterial stiffness in patients with T2D and HTN.
The fine print
This study included a very small number of participants. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results.
Published By :
American journal of hypertension
Date :
May 02, 2019
