title: Angiotensin II, angiotensin II antagonists and spironolactone and their modulation of cardiac repolarization.
abstract: Angiotensin II and aldosterone produce pro-arrhythmic effects by several mechanisms, including the modulation of voltage-dependent K(+) channels involved in human cardiac repolarization. Drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system exert anti-arrhythmic actions that are related to the blockade of the pro-arrhythmic actions of angiotensin II and aldosterone. These anti-arrhythmic actions include inhibition of electrical and structural cardiac remodeling, inhibition of neurohumoral activation, reduction of blood pressure and stabilization of electrolyte disturbances. In this article, several angiotensin II AT(1) receptor antagonists (candesartan, E3174, eprosartan, irbesartan and losartan) and aldosterone receptor antagonists (canrenoic acid and spironolactone) that directly modulate the activity of the voltage-dependent K(+) channels are reviewed; the effects of these antagonists might be useful in the prevention and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, 28040-Madrid, Spain. edelpon@med.ucm.es
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delpón
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tamargo
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D057912:Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Blockers; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 / Q000502:physiology; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D057912:Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Blockers; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2; D000804:Angiotensin II; D013148:Spironolactone