title: The role of renin-angiotensin system inhibition in the treatment of hypertension in metabolic syndrome: are all the angiotensin receptor blockers equal?
abstract: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, as well as new Type 2 diabetes. MetS consists of visceral obesity, elevated blood pressure, impaired glucose metabolism, atherogenic dyslipidaemia (elevated triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), as well as other metabolic abnormalities. The underlying pathophysiology seems to be largely, but not uniquely, attributable to insulin resistance. Existing antihypertensive drugs were designed to lower blood pressure rather than to modify the metabolic abnormalities associated with hypertension. This review considers the role of renin-angiotensin system inhibition and especially the use of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in the treatment of hypertension in MetS. There are differences among ARBs. Among them is the uricosuric effect of losartan. Furthermore, telmisartan may function as a partial agonist of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma).
authors.affiliation: Second Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Asterios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karagiannis
authors.forename: Dimitri P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mikhailidis
authors.forename: Vasilios G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Athyros
authors.forename: Anna I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Kakafika
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tziomalos
authors.forename: Evangelos N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Liberopoulos
authors.forename: Matilda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Florentin
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elisaf
mesh_terms: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000502:physiology; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin