Aim: Lipoprotein lipase protein exists in preheparin serum (preheparin LpL mass), even though lipoprotein lipase activity is rarely detected. Recent clinical studies have clarified that low preheparin LpL mass concentration is an important coronary risk factor. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of telmisartan, which is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist with partial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist activity, on preheparin LpL mass concentration in the serum of patients with hypertension.
Methods: Fifty untreated hypertensive patients were treated with telmisartan 40 mg/day for 12 weeks and the subjects were divided into two groups by their mean value of preheparin LpL mass concentration at baseline (cut-off level: Male 55 ng/mL, Female 65 ng/mL).
Results: Before telmisartan therapy, low preheparin LpL mass concentration was closely associated with the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and the presence of coronary atherosclerosis. Preheparin LpL mass concentration significantly increased after telmisartan therapy in subjects with a low preheparin LpL mass concentration (baseline/12 weeks after, 46 +/- 12 ng/mL/54 +/- 14 ng/mL, p=0.001).
Conclusion: This finding indicated that telmisartan could prevent the occurrence of coronary events in subjects with hypertension by increasing the preheparin LpL mass concentration.