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Biotech / Medical : AtheroGenics, Inc.{AGIX}-nasdaq -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sim1 who wrote (25)	2/19/2001 11:00:35 AM
From: keokalani'nui	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 332

Irbesartan May Prevent or Slow Atherosclerosis -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Feb 06 - The angiotensin II receptor blocker irbesartan may have an unforeseen benefit in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease. Emory University researchers report that the drug reduces signs of inflammation associated with premature atherosclerosis. Dr. Bobby V. Khan and colleagues in Atlanta examined the effects of irbesartan on atherosclerosis-associated inflammatory markers in 33 normotensive patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). They took baseline measurements in the patients then treated them for 24 weeks with 75 to 150 mg/day of irbesartan. At the start of the study, patients had higher levels of the inflammatory markers VCAM-1, TNF-alpha-RII and superoxide, thus further "establishing and inflammatory process in atherogenesis," the Atlanta team reports in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. With treatment, "irbesartan decreased the amount of inflammatory molecules to below levels of control." Specifically, levels of the three markers were reduced by 36%, 54% and 52%, respectively, at 24 months, with maximal suppression at 12 weeks. None of the subjects experienced hypotension during the study. "These findings imply that the use of irbesartan in low doses may retard the inflammatory component of the atherosclerotic process without affecting blood pressure," the investigators report. Dr. Khan adds in a statement that further studies will be needed to determine if this effect actually slows the progression of atherosclerosis in patients with CAD. J Am Coll Cardiol 2001;37:440-444.