Antiplatelet Effect of Losartan and Telmisartan in Patients With Ischemic Stroke

Antiplatelet effects of angiotensin II receptor blocker have been suggested, but satisfactory results in clinical settings are lacking. We investigated spontaneous platelet aggregation (SPA) and CD62P levels in patients with hypertension and chronic-stage ischemic stroke. The study comprised 35 patients assigned to losartan (50 mg/day) or telmisartan (40 mg/day) for 4 weeks randomly. SPA was evaluated using laser-scattered light aggregometry and CD62P levels using whole blood flow cytometry before and after treatment. SPA was not significantly reduced after losartan or telmisartan treatment. CD62P was significantly reduced after losartan treatment (P = .016), but no significant differences were noted with telmisartan. These findings suggest that standard doses of losartan display antiplatelet effect as measured by CD62P levels.

Key Words: Losartan, telmisartan, platelet activation, ischemic stroke