The role of angiotensin II in hypertension and end-organ damage.

Both high blood pressure and the local effects from Ang II contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. From all these effects, it is clear that antihypertensive treatment by interfering with the Ang II regulatory system has two benefits: It leads to a reduction of blood pressure per se, with the positive effects of reducing stress, turbulence and stretch of the vascular wall. It decreases Ang II-mediated responses involved in cardiovascular remodelling. The recent emergence of several specific Ang II-receptor antagonists such as losartan or valsartan has considerably widened the therapeutic options available for the treatment of hypertension-related diseases.