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Background: The blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect of sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) is greater than that of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) but in in real-world clinical practice, Sac/Val is used in a variety of patterns other than switching from ARBs. In the present study we investigated the effects of Sac/Val on BP and biochemical parameters when switching from or adding it to various antihypertensive drugs and examined what factors could be predictors of the antihypertensive effect of Sac/Val. Methods and Results: In 108 hypertensive patients treated with antihypertensive agents (including 4 naïve cases), clinic BP and various biochemical parameters were assessed before and after switching to/adding Sac/Val (200 mg/day). Systolic and diastolic BPs significantly decreased after treatment with Sac/Val (P<0.0001, respectively). As for biochemical parameters, alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and uric acid significantly decreased after administration of Sac/Val, but renal function, B-type natriuretic peptide, and plasma renin activity (PRA) did not change before or after treatment with Sac/Val. Multiple regression analysis revealed that low PRA and high baseline systolic BP were independent determinants of systolic BP reduction after Sac/Val treatment. Conclusions: Sac/Val is beneficial for poorly controlled hypertension in daily clinical practice and low PRA may be a predictor of the antihypertensive effect of switching to/adding Sac/Val., Competing Interests: T. Horio received personal fees for lectures from Novartis Pharma and Otsuka Pharmaceutical. D.F. received personal fees for lectures from Novartis Pharma and Otsuka Pharmaceutical, and received a scholarship grant from Otsuka Pharmaceutical. M.Y. is a member of Circulation Reports’ Editorial Team. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024, THE JAPANESE CIRCULATION SOCIETY.)

A 39-year-old man presented with worsening fever, cough, and fatigue. He was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and was found to have sepsis, septic pulmonary embolism, right empyema, liver abscess, pyelonephritis, and a prostate abscess, with background diabetes mellitus. While receiving treatment, an ICU nurse noticed that the patient's toe tips were too large to fit the clamp device of pulse oximeters. Thus, we re-examined the patient and confirmed that he had clinical features indicative of acromegaly including bulging eyebrows, enlarged nose and lips, large feet, and prognathism. He and his family had not noticed these features except for his enlarged feet. We evaluated the patient further for acromegaly, and a pituitary mass was detected via contrast-enhanced head magnetic resonance imaging. Whole-body computed tomography also revealed thickened heel pads, cauliflower deformity, frontal sinus enlargement, sella turcica enlargement, and mandibular malocclusion. A 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed to investigate abnormal secretion of growth hormone (GH), and the results revealed a paradoxical increase in GH levels. The patient was then diagnosed with acromegaly according to the clinical guidance of the Japan Endocrine Society. Acromegaly develops slowly; thus, to improve patients' prognoses, physicians including internists, family physicians, and endocrinologists should include acromegaly in their differential when signs are apparent., Competing Interests: None, (Copyright © Japan Medical Association.)