Daniel Pella, Robert Hatala, Rastislav Šidlo
Fixed combination of perindopril arginine with amlodipine has been proven by the extensive evidence based medicine. Many clinical studies confirmed not only a significant antihypertensive effect of this combination in a broad dosage spectrum, but what is more, also a comprehensive target organ protection was validated (mainly in clinical studies ASCOT and EUROPA). The objective of the scientific programmes SYMBIO I and SYMBIO II (StudY of optiMized Blood pressure lowerIng therapy with fixed cOmbination perindopril/amlodipine) was to confirm antihypertensive efficacy of fixed combination of perindopril arginine with amlodipine in hypertensive patients with or without coronary artery disease. Systolic blood pressure decreased statistically significantly from 157.7 ± 15.5 mmHg to 132.2 ± 9.1 mmHg (p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure from 94.3 ± 9.2 mmHg to 80.9 ± 5.9 mmHg (p < 0.001) in the whole group of patients (n = 6,640) after 3 months of therapy. Blood pressure targets were reached by 75 % of the total patient population. Adverse effects were very rare and mild. Moreover, there were no significant changes of evaluated laboratory parameters observed during the whole study period. Patient´s quality of life (evaluated by questionnaire method) significantly improved at the end of study in comparison with baseline visit in the followed- up patient´s subgroup (SYMBIO II) (p < 0.001). In conclusion, fixed combination therapy with perindopril arginine and amlodipine was effective and safe in patients with arterial hypertension, irrespective of presence of coronary artery disease.