title: Telmisartan for the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant healthcare and economic burden on societies and individuals. Angiotensin II is a key component of the renin-angiotensin system that plays a central role in atherosclerotic mechanisms that contribute to CVD. Renin-angiotensin system blockers are widely used to reduce cardiovascular (CV) risk owing to their potential both to lower blood pressure, a CV risk factor, and to attenuate the atherosclerotic disease process directly. Telmisartan has a number of pharmacological properties that distinguish it from other angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) - the longest plasma half-life, highest lipophilicity and strongest receptor binding affinity in class. The ONTARGET(®) trial showed that telmisartan is as effective as ramipril in reducing CV morbidity (including myocardial infarction and stroke) and mortality in a broad range of patients at increased CV risk. Evidence from other ARBs remains largely restricted to patients with heart failure, diabetic nephropathy or specific subsets of hypertensive patients. Telmisartan is, therefore, the only ARB with a broad indication for CV risk reduction in patients with atherothrombotic disease or diabetes with end-organ damage.
authors: Unità Operativa Complessa di Medicina, Ospedale di Assisi, Via Valentin Muller, 06081 Assisi, Italy. verdec@tin.it
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Verdecchia
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Angeli
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Gentile
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Mazzotta
authors: Gianpaolo
authors: G
authors: Reboldi
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D000077333:Telmisartan
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001565:Benzoates; D000077333:Telmisartan