title: The Divergent Cardiovascular Effects of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers on Myocardial Infarction and Death.
abstract: The renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a central role in the pathophysiology of hypertension and vascular disease. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) suppress angiotensin II (ANG II) concentrations, whereas angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) block the binding of ANG II to AT1 receptors. ACEis and ARBs are both effective anti-hypertensive agents and have similar risk reductions in stroke - a blood pressure dependent phenomenon. ACEis also reduce the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and mortality in high risk hypertensive patients, as well as in diabetics, the elderly, those with vascular disease, and in congestive heart failure. ARBs, in contrast, do not reduce the risk of MI or death in clinical trials where the comparator has been another active therapy or even a placebo. Systematic reviews of ARBs that include meta-analyses or meta-regression analyses confirm that ARBs lack the cardiovascular protective effects of ACEis, which in part are "independent" of blood pressure lowering. Practice guidelines, especially those in high risk hypertensive patients, should reflect the evidence that ACEis and ARBs have divergent cardiovascular effects - ACEis reduce mortality, whereas ARBs do not. ACEis should be the preferred RAAS inhibitor in high risk patients.
authors.affiliation: North York General Hospital, 107-4800 Leslie Street, Toronto, Canada M2J 2K9. Electronic address: dr.marty@bellnet.ca.
authors.forename: Martin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.affiliation: Leeds MRC Medical Bioinformatics Centre, Old Ward 39; Main Site; C Floor, Y&H LCRN Cardiology Research Unit, The General Infirmary at Leeds, Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 3EX. Electronic address: a.s.hall@leeds.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alistair S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
keywords: ACEi meta-analysis; ARB meta-analysis; Angiotensin II AT(1) receptor blocker (ARB); Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi); Death; Meta-regression analysis; Myocardial infarction (MI); Renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS); Stroke (CVA)