Aim To examine the antihypertensive effect of losartan and the effect of losartan on left
ventricular remodeling and insulin
sensitivity in essential hypertention (EH).Methods sixty-five patients with EH of grade 1 to 3 were given losartan 50mg once daily for 8 weeks,and the casual blood pressure,heart rate were assessed before and after treatment,and fast plasma insulin and fast plasma glucose were detected in sixty patients.Echocardiography were carried out in 38 patients to determine the IVST,LVPWT and LVMI.Results The casual blood pressure were decreased obviously (P<0 01) after 8 weeks of treatment,heart rate also decreased obviously (P<0 05);the interventricular septum thickness (IVST),left
ventricular post wall thickness (LVPWT) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05);the fast plasma insulin decreased while insulin sensitive index were improved obviously,the fast plasma glucose were not changed significantly.Conclusion The angiotensin Ⅱ receptor antagonist losartan decrease blood pressure,have good effect on left ventricular remodeling and improve insulin sensitivity in essential
hypertension.