Left ventricular hypertrophy and angiotensin II antagonists

Left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertension is an important condition. It is associated with significant mortality and carries increase d risk for developing nonfatal cardiovascular complications, including coro nary heart disease. The pathogenesis of left ventricular hypertrophy is lin ked to activation of the renin-angiotensin system, with excessive productio n of angiotensin II believed to be responsible. The therapeutic benefit of blocking angiotensin II at the receptor with selective angiotensin II antag onists, a relatively new class of antihypertensive agents, is therefore con sidered for regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. Clinical evidence s hows significant efficacy in reversing left ventricular hypertrophy in hype rtensive patients after treatment with angiotensin II antagonists. Publishe d data include open-label and randomized studies with losartan treatment fo r left ventricular hypertrophy, with fewer studies investigating the effect s of valsartan, irbesartan, and candesartan. Am J Hypertens 2001;14: 174-18 2 (C) 2001 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.