title: The comparative efficacy and safety of the angiotensin receptor blockers in the management of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.
abstract: All national guidelines for the management of hypertension recommend angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) as an initial or add-on antihypertensive therapy. The eight available ARBs have variable clinical efficacy when used for control of hypertension. Additive blood pressure-lowering effects have been demonstrated when ARBs are combined with thiazide diuretics or dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, augmenting hypertension control. Furthermore, therapeutic use of ARBs goes beyond their antihypertensive effects, with evidence-based benefits in heart failure and diabetic renal disease particularly among angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-intolerant patients. On the other hand, combining renin-angiotensin system blocking agents, a formerly common practice among medical subspecialists focusing on the management of hypertension, has ceased, as there is not only no evidence of cardiovascular benefit but also modest evidence of harm, particularly with regard to renal dysfunction. ARBs are very well tolerated as monotherapy, as well as in combination with other antihypertensive medications, which improve adherence to therapy and have become a mainstay in the treatment of stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hypertension and Clinical Pharmacology, Calhoun Cardiology Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA.
authors.forename: Hazel Mae A
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: C Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055118:Medication Adherence; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents