Investigation of MDR1 (Multi-Drug Resistance) Gene Polymorphism and Losartan Plasma Concentration in Patients Undergoing Hypertensive Episodes While Under Losartan Treatment: A Prospective, Case-Control Study

This trial was conducted in the emergency services of Gazi University and Pamukkale University. The patient group was comprised of 50 individuals presenting with a hypertensive episode (patients under 60, >140/90 mmHg, patients over 60, >150/90 mmHg, according to the JNC8 guidelines) while under losartan treatment. The control group, by contrast, included 50 patients whose blood pressure was regulated while receiving losartan treatment and who were admitted to the ED for reasons other than hypertensive episode. The eligible patients matching the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited for the study.

Within the scope of this research, we included hypertension patients over 18 who gave their informed consent for the study and received minimum 25 mg losartan daily for at least six weeks. 50 individuals admitted to the ED due to a hypertensive episode while under losartan treatment were assigned to the patient group, while 50 patients whose blood pressure was regulated while receiving losartan treatment and who were admitted to the ED for reasons other than hypertensive episode were included in the control group. Those who did not give their consent to participate and did not match the inclusion criteria were excluded from the scope of the study Prior to the trial, the participants were assessed based on the pre-defined patient selection criteria, and the non-eligible ones were excluded from the trial. These exclusion criteria can be listed as refusal to participate in the study, illiteracy, being under 18, being pregnant and in lactation period, being hemodynamically unstable (mean arterial pressure <65mmHg), undergoing kidney transplantation, having liver failure (CHILD PUGH Class C and higher patients) or renal failure (GFR<60), and taking anti-hypertensive drugs other than losartan(Figure 1).

Initially, 20 ml of blood was collected from the enrolled patients. 10 ml of blood was stored in the tubes with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) until Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) isolation was performed at -20 degrees and plasma level was identified. The remaining 10 ml was centrifuged at 3500 rpm for 10 min, and the plasma was separated. The resulting plasmas were stored in the eppendorf tubes at -20°C until the tandem mass spectrometry measurement.