title: Role of angiotensin receptor blockers in patients with left ventricular dysfunction: lessons from CHARM and VALIANT.
abstract: The role of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with left ventricular dysfunction has changed after the VALIANT and CHARM trials. CHARM proved that candesartan is a good alternative for patients with chronic heart failure who cannot tolerate ACE-inhibitors. Moreover, VALIANT demonstrated non-inferiority of valsartan compared to captopril in patients after an acute myocardial infarction. The add-on effects of an ARB on top of an ACE-inhibitor are somewhat less pronounced, although a reduction in the number of hospitalizations for heart failure seems a consistent finding.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Voors
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van Veldhuisen
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine; C081643:candesartan