Pathophysiology of target-organ disease: does angiotensin II remain the key?
Basic research provides an increasingly compelling rationale for renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade in hypertension treatment and cardiovascular risk reduction. Clinical trials addressing blood pressure-independent effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers, however, have yielded mixed results, in part because of incomplete RAS blockade. Animal studies have shed new light on the complexity of RAS pathways involved in the induction of target-organ damage. New outcomes trials are under way to explore the full potential of more complete RAS blockade with regard to cardiovascular target-organ protection.
Victor
Ronald G
RG
Hypertension Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-8586, USA. ronald.victor@utsouthwestern.edu
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000502:physiology*; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019808:Losartan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012083:Renin / Q000502:physiology; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000068756:Valsartan; D012083:Renin; D014633:Valine; D019808:Losartan