We included 115 patients with hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy, established by echocardiography. Extensive echocardiographic examinations, ultrasonography of the carotid arteries, 24h Holter registrations, 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring monitoring, neurohormones and blood samples for inflammation and hemostasis markers and endothelial function were done at weeks 0, 12, 24, and 48. Matched control groups (1:3, i.e. 38 normotensive subjects and 38 hypertensive subjects with no signs of hypertensive heart disease were examined at one occasion. All patients obtained irbesartan or atenolol for 12 weeks; a diuretic and a calcium antagonist was added when needed thereafter in order to obtained a blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg. All analyses were performed central in a core laboratory.