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Comparing Antihypertensive Effect and Plasma Ciclosporin Concentration between Amlodipine and Valsartan Regimens in Hypertensive Renal Transplant Patients Receiving Ciclosporin Therapy

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Abstract

Background

Hypertension, a major complication in kidney transplant recipients, is associated with premature death and graft loss. However, an optimal antihypertensive therapy for these patients has not been established [Chinese Clinical Trial Registry No. ChiCTR-TRC-10001071].

Objective

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of amlodipine and valsartan on BP control in renal transplant patients and to analyze the correlation between cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A5 or multidrug resistance-1 gene (MDR1) genotype and the antihypertensive effect of these two regimens.

Methods

150 renal transplant patients with stage 1 or 2 hypertension were enrolled in the trial. Patients were randomly assigned to amlodipine or valsartan. Metoprolol was added if BP was not under control after 4 weeks. BP and plasma levels of ciclosporin were monitored during the 24-week trial. CYP3A5 and MDR1 genotypes were determined using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.

Results

The demographic features and baseline BP were similar between these two groups. During the 24-week trial, the reduction of systolic BP (SBP) was similar between the amlodipine and valsartan groups. However, the reduction of diastolic BP (DBP) was significantly greater in the amlodipine group compared with the valsartan group at 12, 16, and 24 weeks of treatment. The plasma level of ciclosporin at 2 hours of medication was significantly higher in the amlodipine group than in the valsartan group after 4 weeks of the trial. The reduction of DBP at 24 weeks was greater in the subjects with CYP3A5 *3/*3 variant than in those with CYP3A5*1/*1 variant (−13.5± 1.9mmHg vs −8.7± 1.6mmHg, p<0.05).

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that amlodipine produced a greater reduction of DBP than valsartan, although both amlodipine and valsartan resulted in satisfactory control of BP in patients with renal transplantation. Administration of amlodipine significantly increased the plasma concentration of ciclosporin, and its effects on BP control and ciclosporin concentration may be associated with the CYP3A5 genotype in these subjects [Chinese Clinical Trial Registry No. ChiCTR-TRC-10001071].

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the National 863 plan Foundation of China (No. 2009AA022703), the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2011CB512001), and the International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Project of Hunan (No. 2010WK2006). The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Clinical Pharmacology of the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 138 Tong-Zi-Bo Road, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

    Jingjing Cai, Zhijun Huang, Guoping Yang, Xiaocong Zuo &  Hong Yuan

  2. Center of Organ Transplantation of the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China

    Ke Cheng, Qifa Ye & Yingzi Ming

  3. Department of Cardiology, A.O. Fox Hospital, Oneonta, NY, USA

    Peipei Zhou

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  1. Jingjing Cai
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Correspondence to Hong Yuan.

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Cai, J., Huang, Z., Yang, G. et al. Comparing Antihypertensive Effect and Plasma Ciclosporin Concentration between Amlodipine and Valsartan Regimens in Hypertensive Renal Transplant Patients Receiving Ciclosporin Therapy. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 11, 401–409 (2011). https://doi.org/10.2165/11593800-000000000-00000

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