The Renin-Angiotensin System and Cardiovascular Disease

Suppression of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors is an established method for controlling blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition to reducing blood pressure, suppression of the RAS is able to protect against the target-organ damage that results from hypertension. Unfortunately, despite the use of ACE inhibitors and agents from the other classes of conventional antihypertensives, effective control of blood pressure remains poor. A major contribution to this failure to control blood pressure appears to be lack of compliance with the prescribed medication, arising from the presence of unacceptable side effects. Angiotensin II type 1 (AT 1 ) receptor blockers, such as candesartan, are the latest class of antihypertensive agent to be developed. They target the AT 1 -receptor - the final common pathway for all the known negative cardiovascular effects of angiotensin II - and provide pronounced antihypertensive efficacy without the side effects of cough and angioneurotic oedema that are associated with the use of ACE inhibitors.