Efficacy and Safety of Valsartan in Combination With Amlodipine Compared to Losartan Plus Hydrochlorothiazide in Patients With Hypertension and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
Efficacy and Safety of Valsartan in Combination With Amlodipine Compared to Losartan Plus Hydrochlorothiazide in Patients With Hypertension and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of amlodipine plus valsartan in patients
 with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Caucasian; male or female outpatients and age between 18-80 years of age, inclusive.

 -  Patients with a history of essential hypertension and who are actually treated either
 with an antihypertensive monotherapy and with a diastolic blood pressure >=90 and <=
 105mmHg or with a combination therapy (limited to two active compounds) and with a
 diastolic blood pressure of >=90 and <= 100mmHg.

 -  Patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Severe hypertension

 -  Symptomatic heart failure

 -  History of stroke, heart attack, coronary bypass surgery etc.

 -  Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or poorly controlled diabetes mellitus.

 Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply