Aortic elastic properties: Effects of carvedilol versus nebivolol

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the new generation β-blocker anti-hypertensive drugs carvedilol and nebivolol on aortic elastic properties which are important indicators of hypertension-related morbidity and mortality. Methods A total of 50 patients who had been diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension according to the Joint National Committee (JNC) VII criteria and who had not received any anti-hypertensive treatment were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomized to receive either 25 mg/day carvedilol (n = 25) or 5 mg/day nebivolol (n = 25) for 3 months at the beginning of the study. Three patients (1 in the carvedilol group, 2 in the nebivolol group) who did not attend 3 month follow-up measurements were excluded from the study. The study was completed with 47 patients (25 women; mean age: 49 ± 9 years). The aortic elastic parameters such as aortic strain (AS), aortic distensibility (AD), and aortic stiffness index (ASI) were measured by echocardiography. Results Carvedilol and nebivolol provided a similar decline in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures (−12/−7 mmHg, p