Add-On Use of Eplerenone Is Effective for Lowering Home and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Drug-Resistant Hypertension

The authors aimed to investigate the blood pressure (BP)–lowering ability of eplerenone in drug-resistant hypertensive patients. A total of 57 drug-resistant hypertensive patients whose home BP was ≥135/85 mm Hg were investigated. The patients were randomized to either an eplerenone group or a control group and followed for 12 weeks. The efficacy was evaluated by clinic, home, and ambulatory BP monitoring. Urinary albumin, pulse wave velocity, and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) were also evaluated. Home morning systolic BP (148±15 vs 140±15 mm Hg) and evening systolic BP (137±16 vs 130±16 mm Hg) were significantly lowered in the eplerenone group (n=35) compared with baseline (both P<.05), while unchanged in the control group (n=22). BP reductions in the eplerenone group were most pronounced for ambulatory awake systolic BP (P=.04), awake diastolic BP (P=.004), and 24-hour diastolic BP (P=.02). FMD was significantly improved in the eplerenone group. In patients with drug-resistant hypertension, add-on use of eplerenone was effective in lowering BP, especially home and ambulatory awake BP.