Both ramipril and telmisartan reverse indices of early diabetic cardiomyopathy: a comparative study.

AIMS We tested the hypothesis that renin-angiotensin system inhibition could reverse left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS Forty asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited in this double-blind cross-over trial. Left ventricular diastolic function was assessed at baseline with Doppler echocardiography; ratios of early to late peak flow velocity through the mitral orifice (E/A) and velocity time integral of early to late transmitral diastolic flow (VTIE/VTIA) were evaluated. In addition, plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was measured. Patients received randomly either ramipril (2.5 mg/day), or telmisartan (40 mg/day) or their combination for 3 months. Subsequently, every patient was crossed over to alternative regimens after a 2-week washout period. Measurements were repeated at the end of each treatment period. Both E/A and VTIE/VTIA ratios were increased (29 and 20% with ramipril, 25 and 23% with telmisartan and 36 and 28% with combination treatment, respectively, p < 0.001), whereas plasma BNP levels were significantly reduced with all 3 regimens (9% with ramipril, 25% with telmisartan and 36% with combination, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Both ramipril and telmisartan improve echocardiographic left ventricular diastolic indices and reduce plasma BNP levels in diabetic patients; their combination yields an even better therapeutic effect.