RT Journal
A1 Moser M
T1 DIuretics for hypertension—reply
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1999
FD August 11
VO 282
IS 6
SP 523
OP 525
DO 10-1001/pubs.JAMA-ISSN-0098-7484-282-6-jbk0811
UL http://dx.doi.org/10-1001/pubs.JAMA-ISSN-0098-7484-282-6-jbk0811
AB 
In Reply: Dr Messerli and colleagues are correct
in pointing out that their study was short-term. In 1991, we reviewed data
on the differing opinions regarding the effects of diuretics on LVH and concluded
that LVH regression occurred if blood pressure was lowered.1
The recent meta-analysis, which noted that ACE inhibitors were the most effective
agents in causing regression, included several studies that were short-term
and enrolled limited numbers of subjects. The conclusion may be correct, but
one cannot dismiss data from the Treatment of Mild Hypertension Study and
the Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study Group on Antihypertensive
Agents study, both of which showed that diuretics were as effective or more
effective than other medications.