Open AccessAngiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in Combination: Theory and Practice
Author(s) -
Sica Domenic A.,
Elliott William J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/j.1524-6175.2001.00678.x
Subject(s) - medicine , angiotensin converting enzyme , angiotensin receptor blockers , angiotensin receptor , pharmacology , angiotensin ii , renin–angiotensin system , disease , receptor , drug , drug class , combination therapy , blood pressure
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are commonly used to treat hypertension and/or a range of progressive end‐organ diseases. The success of each of these drug classes in disease‐state management is without dispute, and has led to speculation that given together the observed response would improve upon that observed with a member of each drug class individually given. Few studies are available, however, which carefully address the effect(s) of the combination of an angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor and an angiotensin receptor blocker. Review of available studies would seem not to strongly support combination therapy with an angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor and an angiotensin receptor blocker as preferred therapy in the broad base of general hypertensive patients with or without end‐organ disease. Additional clarifying studies are needed to determine if specific patient subsets exist that might benefit from such combination therapy.