Effect of losartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, on response of cortisol and aldosterone to adrenocorticotrophic hormone.
Many imidazole derivatives are shown to inhibit adrenal steroid biosynthesis. The present study was undertaken to examine an effect of another imidazole derivative, losartan (an angiotensin II receptor antagonist), on responses of cortisol and aldosterone to adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). Nine patients with essential hypertension were given placebo orally for 7 days and 50 mg of losartan for the next 9 days. Response of serum cortisol and plasma aldosterone to intramuscular ACTH injection were determined before and at the end of the treatment with losartan. Serum cortisol and plasma aldosterone significantly increased after ACTH injection in both periods of treatment (placebo and losartan). The increments in these parameters during treatment with losartan were not significantly different from those during treatment with placebo. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of losartan on adrenal steroid biosynthesis is negligible.
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
M
M
Sasaki
A
A
Fujimura
K
K
Harada
K
K
Sunaga
A
A
Ebihara
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019808:Losartan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D007093:Imidazoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000450:Aldosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D019808:Losartan; D006854:Hydrocortisone