Clinical experience with angiotensin II receptor antagonists

The new generation of antihypertensive agents, the angiotensin II receptor antagonists, lower blood pressure by intervening in the RAA system. Angiotensin II is the major effector compound in the RAA cascade; therefore, blockade of the angiotensin II receptor represents a particularly effective way of preventing its hypertensive effects. Losartan (DuP 753, MK954) is the first of a new series of non-peptide orally-active angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Preliminary results of ongoing pharmacology and efficacy studies with losartan indicate that it may have an improved clinical profile when compared with other antihypertensive agents. The results of these studies have indicated that the effective antihypertensive dose of losartan is 50 mg once daily.