Atenolol and Eprosartan: Differential Effects on Central Blood Pressure and Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity

These data indicate that despite similar effects on peripheral BP and a greater effect on aortic stiffness, atenolol had less impact on central systolic BP than eprosartan because it failed to reduce wave reflection. This provides one potential explanation for the failure of atenolol to improve outcome in older patients with essential hypertension.