[Pharmacological properties and its significance in clinical practice].
Losartan is a potent non-peptide, selective angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist. Losartan has been worldwide marketed as the first orally active AT1 receptor antagonist with once-daily dosing for treatment of hypertension. In a study of patients with heart failure, the mortality appeared to be lower with losartan than with the ACE inhibitor captopril. In healthy subjects, losartan produced a dose-dependent reduction in serum uric acid. The mechanism of action is considered to be the inhibition of reabsorption of uric acid in the proximal tubules of the kidney. Furthermore, it was recently reported that losartan has moderate affinity for the thromboxane (TX) A2 receptor in a competitive-inhibition manner in the platelets and vascular smooth muscle. The efficacy of losartan with regard to not only AT1 receptor blockade, but also the reduction of serum uric acid and the blockade of TXA2 receptors, may be advantageous to patients with hypertension having these cardiovascular risk factors.
Nishikibe
M
M
Development Research Laboratories, Banyu Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
Ikemoto
F
F
D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017482:Receptors, Thromboxane / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D017482:Receptors, Thromboxane; D014527:Uric Acid; D019808:Losartan