Objective:To evaluate the effects of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor antagonist valsartan on large artery elasticity in patients with essential hypertension.Method:Eighty two cases of patients with essential hypertension were randomly divided into observation group（42 cases） and control group（40 cases）

the observation group was given valsartan（80-160 mg·d-1） treatment

the control group was given hydrochlorothiazide（50-100 mg·d-1） treatment

to plus metoprolol（25 mg·d-1） if blood pressure control did not meet standards（≤140/90 mmHg）in both groups

blood pressure

arm-ankle pulse wave velocity（ba-PWV）and ankle-brachial index（ABI） were applied by automatic measurement system before treatment and 6 months after treatment.Result:Before treatment

systolic blood pressure

diastolic blood pressure

ba-PWV

ABI in both groups showed no significant difference.It was comparable between the two groups.After 6 months treatment

systolic blood pressure

diastolic blood pressure in both groups of patients were decreased significantly than before treatment（P<0.05）

with no significant difference between the two groups.The ba-PWV in the observed group was significantly lower than that before treatment and the control group（P<0.01

P<0.05）.ABI in the observed group was significantly higher than that before treatment and the control group（P<0.01）.ba-PWV

ABI in the control group was no significant change than that before treatment.Conclusion:Valsartan can significantly improve arterial elasticity compared with hydrochlorothiazide at the same level on the basis of lower blood pressure

and this improvement might be also associated with factors other than treatment of hypertension.