title: Update on the efficacy of angiotensin receptor blockers in treatment of hypertension.
abstract: Angiotensin II, the principal effector peptide of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), has potent vasoconstrictive and other effects that can lead to cardiac and renal complications. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which block the effects of angiotensin II at the receptor level, antagonize angiotensin II's vasoconstrictive and prooxidant effects, decrease aldosterone secretion, and mitigate sympathetic activity. The antihypertensive efficacy of the ARBs has been demonstrated in large clinical trials. In addition to their blood pressure-lowering effect, these agents also provide cardiovascular (CV) protection and reduce CV mortality as effectively as other classes of antihypertensive agents. By inhibiting the RAAS, the ARBs also have renoprotective effects and are indicated for the treatment of hypertension in patients with diabetes. They have also been shown to lower the incidence of new-onset diabetes in high-risk hypertensive patients. Combining ARBs with other antihypertensive drugs increases their antihypertensive efficacy.
mesh_terms: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002216:Captopril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019808:Losartan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000068756:Valsartan; D002216:Captopril; D014633:Valine; D019808:Losartan