The aim of the study was to check if plasma renin activity (PRA) is helpful for reduction of arterial stiffness. According to PRA value hypertensive patients should be divided into two subtypes low and high renin (PRA over/below 0.65ng/ml/h). According to Laragh and Alderman algorithm high renin “R” hypertension should be treated by RAA-system antagonists. Low renin “V” hypertension should be treated by diuretics or calcium channel blockers (anti-“V”drugs).

PRA was measured in 95 never treated patients, with HT stage 1 or 2. 59 patients were “high renin”, 36- “low renin”. Irrespectively of PRA patients were randomized to 6 months monotherapy with: quinapril,amlodipine,hydrochlorothiazide,losartan,bisoprolol. Finally four groups were compared for mentioned above subclinical organ damage: group1(high renin,anti-RAA drugs),group2(high renin,anti-V drugs),group3(low renin,anti-RAA drugs),group4(low renin,anti-V drugs). Before and then after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment pulse wave velocity (PWV) by using COMPLIOR, SPHYGMOCOR and ARTERIOGRAPH devices were performed. Moreover aortic pulse pressure (AoPP) was analysed from pulse wave in applanation tonometry by using SPHYGMOCOR device.

Results: At the baseline no differences between groups were observed in PWV. ANOVA for repeated measurements revealed for all groups significant decrease in PWV (p=0.0007). No differences appeared between groups 1–4 in mentioned above effect.

AoPP decresed significantly during observation period in all examined groups (p=0.0003), with no any between-groups difference.

Conclusions: Irrespectively of chosen drug and initial PRA value we observed similar effect for PWV and AoPP drops, therefore PRA value and chosen antihypertensive drug don’t affect the magnitude of arterial stiffness and AoPP decrease.