Angiotensin II receptor blockers and cardiovascular outcomes: the evidence now and in the future

The blood-pressure-lowering efficacy of both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) has been clearly demonstrated in recent years, although there is evidence that within the ARB class the individual therapies are not necessarily identical in term...

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Main Author: Michael Weber
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publications 2001-06-01
Series:Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
Online Access:http://jra.sagepub.com/content/2/2_suppl/S12.full.pdf
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author Michael Weber
author_facet Michael Weber
author_sort Michael Weber
collection DOAJ
description The blood-pressure-lowering efficacy of both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) has been clearly demonstrated in recent years, although there is evidence that within the ARB class the individual therapies are not necessarily identical in terms of sustained and consistent antihypertensive efficacy over the entire dosing period. However, the results of the recent HOPE study have demonstrated that ACE-I have a wider role to play in treating cardiovascular disease, and support the idea that ACE inhibition specifically has a vascular protective effect. The most dramatic benefits were seen in patients with systolic blood pressures in the hypertensive range. The ability of the ACE-I to provide protective effects beyond blood pressure control may be due to their ability to attenuate the breakdown of kinins as well as a role in reducing angiotensin II. These data pose the question as to whether the pharmacological properties of the ARBs, in addition to their antihypertensive efficacy, may also play a significant role in influencing cardiovascular outcomes. A number of prospective long-term studies, including VALUE, SCOPE, LIFE, VALIANT, OPTIMAAL, VAL-HEFT and CHARM I-III, are investigating the effects of the ARBs of mortality and morbidity in patients with cardiovascular disease. These studies should answer important questions with respect to the role that ARBs may have in influencing cardiovascular outcomes, although it remains to be seen whether ARBs can match the protective effects of ramipril in high-risk patients. Given the excellent tolerability of the ARBs, it will be of value to examine the influence of ARBs on cardiovascular outcomes in all relevant patient groups.
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spelling doaj.art-98df617af79348c4997afdfd78d910cf2024-03-02T01:45:55ZengSAGE PublicationsJournal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System1470-32031752-89762001-06-0122_supplS12S1610.3317/jraas.2001.02910.3317_jraas.2001.029Angiotensin II receptor blockers and cardiovascular outcomes: the evidence now and in the futureMichael Weber0SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, Brooklyn, New York, USA, minskyja@cs.comThe blood-pressure-lowering efficacy of both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) has been clearly demonstrated in recent years, although there is evidence that within the ARB class the individual therapies are not necessarily identical in terms of sustained and consistent antihypertensive efficacy over the entire dosing period. However, the results of the recent HOPE study have demonstrated that ACE-I have a wider role to play in treating cardiovascular disease, and support the idea that ACE inhibition specifically has a vascular protective effect. The most dramatic benefits were seen in patients with systolic blood pressures in the hypertensive range. The ability of the ACE-I to provide protective effects beyond blood pressure control may be due to their ability to attenuate the breakdown of kinins as well as a role in reducing angiotensin II. These data pose the question as to whether the pharmacological properties of the ARBs, in addition to their antihypertensive efficacy, may also play a significant role in influencing cardiovascular outcomes. A number of prospective long-term studies, including VALUE, SCOPE, LIFE, VALIANT, OPTIMAAL, VAL-HEFT and CHARM I-III, are investigating the effects of the ARBs of mortality and morbidity in patients with cardiovascular disease. These studies should answer important questions with respect to the role that ARBs may have in influencing cardiovascular outcomes, although it remains to be seen whether ARBs can match the protective effects of ramipril in high-risk patients. Given the excellent tolerability of the ARBs, it will be of value to examine the influence of ARBs on cardiovascular outcomes in all relevant patient groups.http://jra.sagepub.com/content/2/2_suppl/S12.full.pdf
spellingShingle Michael Weber
Angiotensin II receptor blockers and cardiovascular outcomes: the evidence now and in the future
Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
title Angiotensin II receptor blockers and cardiovascular outcomes: the evidence now and in the future
title_full Angiotensin II receptor blockers and cardiovascular outcomes: the evidence now and in the future
title_fullStr Angiotensin II receptor blockers and cardiovascular outcomes: the evidence now and in the future
title_full_unstemmed Angiotensin II receptor blockers and cardiovascular outcomes: the evidence now and in the future
title_short Angiotensin II receptor blockers and cardiovascular outcomes: the evidence now and in the future
title_sort angiotensin ii receptor blockers and cardiovascular outcomes the evidence now and in the future
url http://jra.sagepub.com/content/2/2_suppl/S12.full.pdf
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