Angioedema Induced by the Angiotensin II Blocker Losartan
- 7 December 1995
- journal article
- letter
- Published by Massachusetts Medical Society in New England Journal of Medicine
- Vol. 333 (23) , 1572
- https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm199512073332316
Abstract
Losartan (Cozaar, Merck) is a new, orally effective blocker of the angiotensin II receptor. The currently available angiotensin-converting–enzyme (ACE) inhibitors block the degradation of bradykinin, which is also metabolized by ACE. The accumulation of potent vasodilator kinins is believed to be the cause of cough and angioneurotic edema induced by ACE inhibitors. Because losartan does not have ACE activity, it would not be expected to increase bradykinin levels.1 The drug has therefore been advocated as being potentially free of these adverse effects. However, angioneurotic edema did occur in 1 patient among 4058 treated.1 We report another case of angioneurotic edema after the administration of losartan.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
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- Comparison of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition with Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonism in the Human ForearmJournal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 1993