The Effect of Eprosartan on Hormones and Kidney Function in Patients With Essential Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 - 65 years.
• Body mass index less or equal to 30 kg/m2.
• Women must use oral hormonal anticonceptive drugs, use intrauterine anticonceptive device, be sterilized / hysterectomized or be postmenopausal.
• Arterial hypertension, defined by 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure above 125 mmHg systolic or above 80 mmHg diastolic.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of myocardial infarction.
• History of stroke.
• Heart failure.
• Endocrine organ disease.
• Lung disease.
• Clinically significant abnormal biochemical screening of the blood regarding: B-hemoglobin, P-sodium, P-potassium, P-creatinine (under 200 µmol/L will be accepted), P-albumin, p-bilirubin, p-alaninaminotransferase, P-alkaline phosphatase, p-cholesterol and B-glucose.
• Clinically significant abnormal screening of the urine regarding: albumin and glucose (protein excretion below 0.5 g/L will be accepted).
• Renovascular hypertension.
• Malignant disease.
• Alcohol abuse.
• Usage of medical drugs besides antihypertensives or statins.
• Drug abuse.
• Pregnancy or breast feeding.
• Known intolerance or allergic to eprosartan or sodium nitroprusside.
• Blood donation within 1 month of the start of the study.