Angiotensin II receptor antagonists - antihypertensive agents

Abstract
Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is now recognised as an effective approach for the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure (CHF). Today, it is possible to antagonise the effects of angiotensin II more specifically by blocking its receptors using non-peptide receptor antagonists. These compounds, which at first were used to identify the various subtypes of angiotensin II receptors, are now available clinically. Some of them have recently been launched on the market and several others are preregistered for the treatment of hypertension. These new molecules are as effective as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors at lowering blood pressure in hypertensive patients, and appear to have similar systemic and renal haemodynamic properties in patients with CHF and renal diseases. Large-scale clinical trials such as the LIFE, the ELITE and the RENAAL studies are now underway to investigate the long-term benefits of one of these agents in hypertension, heart failure and Type I...

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