Effect of Two Doses of Olmesartan Medoxomil and Amlodipine on Vascular Markers in Hypertensive Patients With Metabolic Syndrome

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female Europeans at the age of 18 years or above with hypertension, metabolicsyndrome, and modest inflammation

• Blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/85 mmHg AND

• hs-CRP greater than or equal to 1.0 and less than 10.0 mg/dL AND at least two (2) ofthe following traits of the metabolic syndrome (ATP III criteria):

• abdominal obesity: waist circumference greater than 102 cm for men and 88 cm forwomen;

• triglyceride level greater than or equal to 150 mg/dL; HDL less than 40 mg/dL for menand less than 50 mg/dL for women

• fasting blood glucose greater than or equal to 110mg/dL

Exclusion Criteria:

• Insulin depended diabetes or type-1 diabetes

• Severe or resistant hypertension

• Patients with secondary hypertension of any aetiology, such as renal disease,pheochromocytoma, or Cushing's syndrome

• Any acute or chronic inflammatory disease

• Constant use of lipid-lowering agents (eg statins, fibrates) for less than 3 monthsbefore study start

• Pregnant or lactating female patients of childbearing potential (prerequisite:adequate contraception);

• Patients with serious disorders which may limit the ability to evaluate the efficacyor safety of the trial drug(s)