[Antihypertensive and metabolic effects of telmisartan in patients with the metabolic syndrome in primary care--a field study].

Telmisartan, a highly selective angiotensin-II-receptor antagonist, used for the treatment of hypertension, acts as a partial agonist of the PPAR-gamma (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma) receptor, which is involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. In the present study the effect of Telmisartan on hypertension, parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism was investigated in 670 patients with the metabolic syndrome. There was a significant (p < 0,05) improvement regarding all parameters involved in the diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome, namely hypertension (systolic: 161,7 +/- 16,3 vs. 136,7 +/- 11,7 mmHg, diastolic: 93,3 +/- 10,1 vs. 80,7 +/- 10,5 mmHg), fasting blood glucose (133,2 +/- 44,1 vs. 116,0 +/- 31,5 mg/dl), triglycerides (227,2 +/- 170,1 vs. 187,8 +/- 94,8 mg/dl), HDL-cholesterin (women: 48,9 +/- 13,1 vs. 51,8 +/- 12,9 mg/dl) and abdominal circumference (women: 101,2 +/- 12,4 vs. 99,3 +/- 12,9 mg/dl, men: 111,9 +/- 14,7 vs. 109,5 +/- 14,4 mg/dl). The number of patients diagnosed with the metabolic syndrome was significantly reduced over the 3 months study duration (38%). The medication was well tolerated and adverse effects were minimal. Thus, Telmisartan can be regarded as an appropriate medication for the therapy of hypertension in patients with the metabolic syndrome with possible additive effects on parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism.