Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Improved Renal Denervation Mitigated Hypertension Induced by Angiotensin II Infusion
08:35

Improved Renal Denervation Mitigated Hypertension Induced by Angiotensin II Infusion

Published on: May 26, 2022

Candesartan cilexetil in children with hypertension or proteinuria: preliminary data

Giacomo D Simonetti1, Rodo O von Vigier, Martin Konrad

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.

Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany)
|June 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Candesartan effectively lowers blood pressure and proteinuria in children. This angiotensin II receptor blocker demonstrated excellent short-term tolerability and a neutral taste in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Background:

  • Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) like irbesartan and losartan are established treatments for hypertension and proteinuria in children.
  • Candesartan cilexetil offers potential advantages in pediatric use due to its neutral taste and small tablet size.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of candesartan cilexetil in pediatric patients with chronic arterial hypertension and/or overt proteinuria.

Main Methods:

  • A 4-month open-label study involving 17 pediatric patients (0.5-16 years) with hypertension and/or proteinuria.
  • Initial dose of 0.23 mg/kg/day, with dose escalation to 0.35 mg/kg/day in ten patients.
  • Monitoring of blood pressure, proteinuria (urinary albumin/creatinine ratio), and plasma potassium levels.

Main Results:

  • Significant reductions in blood pressure (9/9 mmHg) in hypertensive children (P<0.01).
  • Significant decrease in urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (279 mg/mmol) in children with proteinuria (P<0.05).
  • A minor, statistically significant increase in plasma potassium (0.3 mmol/l) was observed (P<0.01), with no adverse clinical events reported.

Conclusions:

  • Candesartan cilexetil is effective in reducing blood pressure and proteinuria in pediatric patients.
  • The drug exhibits an excellent short-term tolerability profile in children.
  • Candesartan represents a viable treatment option for pediatric hypertension and proteinuria.

Related Concept Videos

Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers01:30

Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers

In the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a hormone called angiotensin II plays a crucial role. It binds to the AT1 receptors in vascular smooth muscles coupled with Gq proteins. The activation of these receptors activates an enzyme called phospholipase C, which releases two molecules: inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. These molecules cause a chain reaction that leads to the phosphorylation of myosin light chains and promotes interaction between actin and myosin, leading to smooth...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Direct Renin Inhibitors01:25

Antihypertensive Drugs: Direct Renin Inhibitors

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is an intricate physiological pathway involving numerous enzymes and hormones, including renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin I and II, and aldosterone. Imbalances within this system increase the production of angiotensin II and aldosterone. Increased angiotensin II levels promote vasoconstriction and blood pressure elevation. Concurrently, higher aldosterone levels stimulate sodium and water reabsorption in the kidneys,...
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System01:26

Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors01:30

Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a vital component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, is abundant in lung endothelial cells. ACE converts the inactive decapeptide, angiotensin I, into the active octapeptide, angiotensin II. This potent vasoconstrictor narrows blood vessels, increasing resistance to blood flow and elevating blood pressure. Angiotensin II also stimulates aldosterone production, encouraging kidney cells to reabsorb more sodium and water from urine, thereby increasing...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Potassium-Sparing Diuretics01:28

Antihypertensive Drugs: Potassium-Sparing Diuretics

Liddle syndrome is a genetically inherited form of hypertension characterized by the overactivity of epithelial sodium channels in the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney. This heightened activity leads to increased sodium reabsorption and excessive excretion of potassium. To counteract this, potassium-sparing diuretics such as amiloride are used. They function by blocking these sodium channels, thereby reducing the influx of sodium into the epithelial cells and minimizing the loss of...
Dose-Response Relationship: Potency and Efficacy01:22

Dose-Response Relationship: Potency and Efficacy

The potency of a drug is the measure of its ability to produce a biological response and can be compared by looking at the half-maximum effective concentration or EC50 values of different drugs. A lower EC50 value indicates higher potency of the drug. In the dose–response curve of two antihypertensive drugs, candesartan and irbesartan, a significant difference is observed in their EC50 values. A lower EC50 value for candesartan indicates that it is more potent than irbesartan, as it produces...