Losartan in heart failure: preclinical experiences and initial clinical outcomes.
Losartan potassium (Cozaar) is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist (AT1 selective) which has undergone extensive clinical trials for the treatment of hypertension. This literature survey will review some of the pre-clinical findings with losartan in models of heart failure, and where appropriate, we will compare the haemodynamic findings in animals with similar studies completed in patients. The major conclusion from these trials is that losartan has clear haemodynamic benefits in patients in heart failure and that the drug appears to be well tolerated, with a low incidence of adverse experiences related to impaired renal function.
Sweet
C S
CS
Merck Research Laboratories, Clinical Cardiovascular Research, West Point, PA 19486.
Rucinska
E J
EJ
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019808:Losartan; D051381:Rats; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000502:physiology; D012756:Sheep; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D007093:Imidazoles; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000804:Angiotensin II; D019808:Losartan