Effect of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker candesartan on endothelial function in patients with essential hypertension
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Updated: Oct 18, 2026

Improved Renal Denervation Mitigated Hypertension Induced by Angiotensin II Infusion
Published on: May 26, 2022
L Ghiadoni1, A Virdis, A Magagna
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Insights
Candesartan treatment improved endothelial function in hypertensive patients by enhancing nitric oxide release and reducing endothelin-1-induced vasoconstriction. This study shows the benefits of angiotensin II receptor blockers for hypertension management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Pharmacology
- Endothelial Function
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Essential hypertension is linked to impaired nitric oxide (NO) release and increased endothelin-1 (ET-1) vasoconstriction.
- Endothelial dysfunction contributes significantly to the pathophysiology of hypertension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of candesartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), on endothelial function in hypertensive patients.
- To assess changes in forearm blood flow (FBF) responses to vasoactive agents before and after candesartan treatment.
Main Methods:
- Intrabrachial infusions of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), norepinephrine, TAK 044 (ET A/B antagonist), sodium nitroprusside, and acetylcholine were used.
- Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured in 15 hypertensive patients and 15 controls.
- Hypertensive patients were studied before and after 2 and 12 months of candesartan cilexetil treatment (8-16 mg/day).
Main Results:
- Hypertensive patients exhibited reduced vasoconstriction to L-NMMA and enhanced vasodilation to TAK-044 compared to controls.
- Candesartan treatment significantly improved L-NMMA-induced vasoconstriction and enhanced acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside responses after 12 months.
- The vasodilation to TAK-044 was abolished after candesartan treatment, correlating with reduced plasma ET-1 levels.
Conclusions:
- Candesartan, an ARB, improves tonic nitric oxide release in hypertensive patients.
- Candesartan effectively reduces vasoconstriction mediated by endogenous endothelin-1.
- The findings support candesartan's role in improving endothelial dysfunction associated with essential hypertension.
Abstract:
Patients with essential hypertension are characterized by impaired basal and agonist-evoked nitric oxide release and increased endogenous endothelin (ET)-1-induced vasoconstriction. To assess whether candesartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker, can improve endothelial function, we studied the changes in forearm blood flow (FBF) induced in 15 hypertensive patients and in 15 control subjects by the intrabrachial infusion of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), norepinephrine, the ET A/B receptor antagonist TAK 044, sodium nitroprusside, and acetylcholine. In hypertensive patients, the FBF study was repeated 2 and 12 months after the start of treatment with candesartan cilexetil (8 to 16 mg daily). Compared with controls (maximal FBF decrease, -46+/-11%), hypertensive patients showed a reduced (P<0.001) vasoconstrictor response to L-NMMA (maximal FBF decrease, -28+/-7%); the response to norepinephrine was only slightly impaired, and the response to sodium nitroprusside was similar to that of controls. Finally, TAK-044 caused greater vasodilation in hypertensive patients (maximal FBF increase, 77+/-9%) than in controls (maximal FBF increase, 17+/-10%). In hypertensive patients, candesartan cilexetil significantly enhanced vasoconstriction to L-NMMA after 2 and 12 months (maximal FBF decrease, 37+/-2% [P<0.05] and 42+/-2% [P<0.001], respectively). The responses to norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and sodium nitroprusside were not modified after 2 months. After 12 months, the responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were significantly (P<0.05) enhanced at the highest rates. Vasodilation to TAK-044 was abolished after treatment with candesartan cilexetil; this effect is associated with a reduced plasma ET-1 concentration. This study demonstrated that the angiotensin II receptor blocker candesartan improves tonic nitric oxide release and reduces vasoconstriction to endogenous ET-1 in the forearm of hypertensive patients.
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