Angiotensin receptor blockers and the cardiovascular continuum: what future is indicated by recent successes?
SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
* M. Weber, SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, New York, NY 11203, U.S.A.
Abstract
This editorial summarizes insights expressed at a recent symposium on angiotensin receptor blockers that is now published in this supplement. After a series of seminal trials in 2001 and 2002 in patients with such conditions as type 2 diabetes and renal insufficiency, heart-failure and hypertension with left-ventricular hypertrophy, we have evidence that these agents confer blood-pressure independent protective effects across the cardiovascular and renal continuum. Even so, blood-pressure control remains a key target of treatment and improving treatment compliance is a further priority. Forthcoming clinical trials with angiotensin receptor blockers in post-myocardial infarction patients and in high risk hypertension should give additional guidance in optimizing cardiovascular protection and prognosis.
Key Words: Cardiovascular protection • diabetes • heart failure • myocardial infarction
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