title: The pleiotropic effects of angiotensin receptor blockers.
abstract: The angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are very effective and safe antihypertensive drugs. They exert their antihypertensive effect through blockage of the angiotensin II, type 1 receptor and quite possibly through stimulation by angiotensin II of the unoccupied type 2 receptor. Besides hypertension, the ARBs have been found recently to be of value in the treatment of heart failure and diabetic nephropathy. In addition, ARBs have emerged lately as being very effective and perhaps superior to other antihypertensive drugs in the prevention of de novo or recurrent strokes. Other actions that may account for their stroke-protective effects include their antiatherogenic, antidiabetic, antiplatelet aggregating, hypouricemic, and atrial antifibrillatory actions. All these actions make the ARBs a true pleiotropic class of drugs. Each of the foregoing effects will be discussed briefly in this concise review.
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma Cardiovascular and Hypertension Center and the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, 5850 West Wilshire Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK 73132-4904, USA. schrysant@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Chrysant
authors.forename: George S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Chrysant
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000517:prevention & control; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D013777:Tetrazoles; D014527:Uric Acid; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine; D019808:Losartan