Abstract
Angiotensin II receptor antagonists (angiotensin receptor blockers; ARBs) and thiazide diuretics have an accepted place in the management of hypertension. Most patients require combination therapy with two or more drugs to adequately control blood pressure to targets recommended by European and international guidelines. ARBs and the thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide have complementary modes of action. Fixed-dose combinations of an ARB and low-dose hydrochlorothiazide provide a convenient and effective treatment option for patients who do not achieve blood pressure targets on monotherapy, without compromising the placebo-like tolerability of ARBs. In Europe, fixed-dose combinations with hydrochlorothiazide currently are available for the ARBs candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan, telmisartan, and valsartan. Recently, a number of studies have focused on the use of ARBs in monotherapy and in combination therapy, in conditions including congestive heart failure, post-myocardial infarction management, hypertension with cardiovascular risk factors, and diabetic and non-diabetic nephropathy. Evidence from these studies suggests a beneficial role beyond the antihypertensive effect of these therapies in providing protection against cardiovascular, renovascular, and cerebrovascular events.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Nussberger J, Brunner DB, Waeber B, et al. Plasma angiotensins under sustained converting enzyme inhibition with enalapril in normal humans. J Hypertens Suppl 1985; 3 Suppl. 3: S269–70.
Hollenberg NK, Fisher ND, Price DA. Pathways for angiotensin II generation in intact human tissue: evidence from comparative pharmacological interruption of the renin system. Hypertension 1998; 32 (3): 387–92.
Markham A, Goa KL. Valsartan: a review of its pharmacology and therapeutic use in essential hypertension. Drugs 1997; 54 (2): 299–311.
Goa KL, Wagstaff AJ. Losartan potassium: a review of its pharmacology, clinical efficacy and tolerability in the management of hypertension. Drugs 1996; 51 (5): 820–45.
Easthope SE, Jarvis B. Candesartan cilexetil: an update of its use in essential hypertension. Drugs 2002; 62 (8): 1253–87.
Fenton C, Keating GM, Scott LJ. Telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide: in the treatment of essential hypertension. Drugs 2003; 63 (19): 2013–26.
Markham A, Spencer CM, Jarvis B. Irbesartan: an updated review of its use in cardiovascular disorders. Drugs 2000; 59 (5): 1187–206.
Plosker GL, Foster RH. Eprosartan: a review of its use in the management of hypertension. Drugs 2000; 60 (1): 177–201.
Warner GT, Jarvis B. Olmesartan medoxomil. Drugs 2002; 62 (9): 1345–53.
Sharpe M, Jarvis B, Goa KL. Telmisartan: a review of its use in hypertension. Drugs 2001; 61 (10): 1501–29.
Israili ZH, Hall WD. Cough and angioneurotic edema associated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy: a review of the literature and pathophysiology. Ann Intern Med 1992; 117 (3): 234–42.
Pylypchuk GB. ACE inhibitor- versus angiotensin II blocker-induced cough and angioedema. Ann Pharmacother 1998; 32 (10): 1060–6.
Burnier M. Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers. Circulation 2001; 103 (6): 904–12.
Unger T, Kaschina E. Drug interactions with angiotensin receptor blockers: a comparison with other antihypertensives. Drug Saf 2003; 26 (10): 707–20.
EUROASPIRE II Study Group. Lifestyle and risk factor management and use of drug therapies in coronary patients from 15 countries: principal results from EUROASPIRE II Euro Heart Survey Programme. Eur Heart J 2001; 22 (7): 554–72.
Godwin M, Delva D, Seguin R, et al. Relationship between blood pressure measurements recorded on patients’ charts in family physicians’ offices and subsequent 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2004; 4(1): 2.
Pavlik VN, Hyman DJ. How well are we managing and monitoring high blood pressure? Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2003; 12 (3): 299–304.
Primatesta P, Brookes M, Poulter NR. Improved hypertension management and control: results from the health survey for England 1998. Hypertension 2001; 38 (4): 827–32.
European Society of Hypertension-European Society of Cardiology Guidelines Committee. 2003 European Society of Hypertension-European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension [published erratum appears in J Hypertens 2003 Nov; 21 (11): 2203–4; J Hypertens 2004 Feb; 22 (2): 435. J Hypertens 2003 Jun; 21 (6): 1011–53.
Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, et al. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure: the JNC 7 report. JAMA 2003; 289 (19): 2560–72.
Hansson L, Zanchetti A, Carruthers SG, et al. Effects of intensive blood-pressure lowering and low-dose aspirin in patients with hypertension: principal results of the Hypertension Optimal Treatment (HOT) randomised trial. HOT Study Group. Lancet 1998; 351 (9118): 1755–62.
Trenkwalder P. AT1-receptor blocker-based combination therapy in hypertension. Blood Press 2001; Suppl. 3: 18–25.
ALLHAT Officers and Coordinators for the ALLHAT Collaborative Research Group. Major outcomes in high-risk hypertensive patients randomized to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or calcium channel blocker vs diuretic: the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering treatment to prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT). JAMA 2002; 288 (23): 2981–97.
Cushman WC, Ford CE, Cutler JA, et al. Success and predictors of blood pressure control in diverse North American settings: the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering treatment to prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT). J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2002; 4 (6): 393–404.
Trenkwalder P. Combination therapy with AT (1)-receptor blockers. J Hum Hypertens 2002; 16 Suppl. 3: S17–25.
Williams B, Poulter NR, Brown MJ, et al. Guidelines for management of hypertension: report of the fourth working party of the British Hypertension Society, 2004-BHS IV. J Hum Hypertens 2004; 18 (3): 139–85.
Grossman E, Peleg E, Carroll J, et al. Hemodynamic and humoral effects of the angiotensin II antagonist losartan in essential hypertension. Am J Hypertens 1994; 7 (12): 1041–4.
Philipp T, Letzel H, Arens HJ. Dose-finding study of candesartan cilexetil plus hydrochlorothiazide in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. J Hum Hypertens 1997; 11 Suppl. 2: S67–8.
Balmori Melian E, Jarvis B. Candesartan cilexetil plus hydrochlorothiazide combination. Drugs 2002; 62 (5): 787–816.
Belcher G, Hubner R, George M, et al. Candesartan cilexetil: safety and tolerability in healthy volunteers and patients with hypertension. J Hum Hypertens 1997; 11 Suppl. 2: S85–9.
Belcher G, Lunde H, Elmfeldt D, et al. The combination tablet of candesartan cilexetil 16mg and hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg has a tolerability profile similar to that of placebo [abstract]. J Hypertens 2000; 18 Suppl. 2: S94.
Bakris G, Gradman A, Reif M, et al. Antihypertensive efficacy of candesartan in comparison to losartan: the CLAIM study. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2001; 3 (1): 16–21.
Andersson OK, Neldam S. A comparison of the antihypertensive effects of candesartan cilexetil and losartan in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. J Hum Hypertens 1997; 11 Suppl. 2: S63–4.
Vidt DG, White WB, Ridley E, et al. A forced titration study of antihypertensive efficacy of candesartan cilexetil in comparison to losartan: CLAIM Study II. J Hum Hypertens 2001; 15 (7): 475–80.
Koenig W. Comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of combination tablets containing candesartan cilexetil and hydrochlorothiazide or losartan and hydrochlorothiazide in patients with moderate to severe hypertension: results of the CARLOS study. Clin Drug Invest 2000; 19 (4): 239–46.
Öhman KP, Milon H, Valnes K. Efficacy and tolerability of a combination tablet of candesartan cilexetil and hydrochlorothiazide in insufficiently controlled primary hypertension: comparison with a combination of losartan and hydrochlorothiazide. Blood Press 2000; 9 (4): 214–20.
Verdecchia P, Angeli F, Borgioni C, et al. Changes in cardiovascular risk by reduction of left ventricular mass in hypertension: a meta-analysis. Am J Hypertens 2003; 16 (11 Pt 1): 895–9.
Díez J, Gonzalez A, Lopez B, et al. Effects of antihypertensive agents on the left ventricle: clinical implications. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 2001; 1 (4): 263–79.
Spratt JC, Webb DJ, Shiels A, et al. Effects of candesartan on cardiac and arterial structure and function in hypertensive subjects. J Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone Syst 2001; 2 (4): 227–32.
Cuspidi C, Muiesan ML, Valagussa L, et al. Comparative effects of candesartan and enalapril on left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension: the Candesartan Assessment in the Treatment of Cardiac Hypertrophy (CATCH) study. J Hypertens 2002; 20 (11): 2293–300.
De Rosa ML, Cardace P, Rossi M, et al. Comparative effects of chronic ACE inhibition and AT1 receptor blocked losartan on cardiac hypertrophy and renal function in hypertensive patients. J Hum Hypertens 2002; 16 (2): 133–40.
Fyhrquist F, Metsarinne K, Tikkanen I. Role of angiotensin II in blood pressure regulation and in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disorders. J Hum Hypertens 1995; 9 Suppl. 5: S19–24.
Goodfriend TL, Elliott ME, Catt KJ. Angiotensin receptors and their antagonists. N Engl J Med 1996; 334 (25): 1649–54.
Rodgers JE, Patterson JH. Angiotensin II-receptor blockers: clinical relevance and therapeutic role. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2001; 58 (8): 671–83.
Hunt SA, Baker DW, Chin MH, et al. ACC/AHA guidelines for the evaluation and management of chronic heart failure in the adult: executive summary. A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee to Revise the 1995 Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Heart Failure): Developed in collaboration with the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Endorsed by the Heart Failure Society of America. Circulation 2001; 104 (24): 2996–3007.
Pitt B, Segal R, Martinez FA, et al. Randomised trial of losartan versus captopril in patients over 65 with heart failure: Evaluation of Losartan In The Elderly study. ELITE. Lancet 1997; 349 (9054): 747–52.
Pitt B, Poole-Wilson PA, Segal R, et al. Effect of losartan compared with captopril on mortality in patients with symptomatic heart failure: randomised trial. The Losartan Heart Failure Survival Study ELITE II. Lancet 2000; 355 (9215): 1582–7.
Riegger GA, Bouzo H, Petr P, et al. Improvement in exercise tolerance and symptoms of congestive heart failure during treatment with candesartan cilexetil: Symptom, Tolerability, Response to Exercise Trial of Candesartan cilexetil in Heart failure (STRETCH) investigators. Circulation 1999; 100 (22): 2224–30.
Matsumori A. Efficacy and safety of oral candesartan cilexetil in patients with congestive heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail 2003; 5 (5): 669–77.
Mitrovic V, Willenbrock R, Miric M, et al. Acute and 3-month treatment effects of candesartan cilexetil on hemodynamics, neurohormones, and clinical symptoms in patients with congestive heart failure. Am Heart J 2003; 145 (3): e14.
Cohn JN, Anand IS, Latini R, et al. Sustained reduction of aldosterone in response to the angiotensin receptor blocker valsartan in patients with chronic heart failure: results from the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial. Circulation 2003; 108 (11): 1306–9.
Pfeffer MA, Swedberg K, Granger CB, et al. Effects of candesartan on mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic heart failure: the CHARM-Overall programme. Lancet 2003; 362 (9386): 759–66.
McMurray JJ, Ostergren J, Swedberg K, et al. Effects of candesartan in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced left-ventricular systolic function taking angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors: the CHARM-Added trial. Lancet 2003; 362 (9386): 767–71.
Granger CB, McMurray JJ, Yusuf S, et al. Effects of candesartan in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced left-ventricular systolic function intolerant to angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors: the CHARM-Alternative trial. Lancet 2003; 362 (9386): 772–6.
Yusuf S, Pfeffer MA, Swedberg K, et al. Effects of candesartan in patients with chronic heart failure and preserved left-ventricular ejection fraction: the CHARM-Preserved Trial. Lancet 2003; 362 (9386): 777–81.
Dahlöf B, Devereux RB, Kjeldsen SE, et al. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension study (LIFE): a randomised trial against atenolol. Lancet 2002; 359 (9311): 995–1003.
Julius S, Kjeldsen SE, Weber M, et al. Outcomes in hypertensive patients at high cardiovascular risk treated with regimens based on valsartan or amlodipine: the VALUE randomised trial. Lancet 2004; 363 (9426): 2022–31.
Weber MA, Julius S, Kjeldsen SE, et al. Blood pressure dependent and independent effects of antihypertensive treatment on clinical events in the VALUE trial. Lancet 2004; 363 (9426): 2049–51.
Cohn JN, Tognoni G. A randomized trial of the angiotensin-receptor blocker valsartan in chronic heart failure. N Engl J Med 2001; 345 (23): 1667–75.
Ölofsson B, Yusuf S, Pfeffer MA, et al. Candesartan improves functional class across a broad spectrum of patients with chronic heart failure: results of the Candesartan in Heart failure — Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity programme (CHARM) [abstract]. J Am Coll Cardiol 2004; 43 (5 Suppl. A): 206.
Michelson E, Swedberg K, Granger C, et al. Prevention of atrial fibrillation in symptomatic chronic heart failure by candesartan: results from CHARM [abstract]. J Am Coll Cardiol 2004; 43 (5 Suppl. A): 222.
Lindholm LH, Ibsen H, Dahlöf B, et al. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension study (LIFE): a randomised trial against atenolol. Lancet 2002; 359 (9311): 1004–10.
Kjeldsen SE, Dahlöf B, Devereux RB, et al. Effects of losartan on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with isolated systolic hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy: a Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction (LIFE) substudy. JAMA 2002; 288 (12): 1491–8.
Devereux RB, Dahlöf B, Kjeldsen SE, et al. Effects of losartan or atenolol in hypertensive patients without clinically evident vascular disease: a substudy of the LIFE randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2003; 139 (3): 169–77.
Lewis EJ, Hunsicker LG, Clarke WR, et al. Renoprotective effect of the angiotensin-receptor antagonist irbesartan in patients with nephropathy due to type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 2001; 345 (12): 851–60.
Parving HH, Lehnert H, Brochner-Mortensen J, et al. The effect of irbesartan on the development of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 2001; 345 (12): 870–8.
Brenner BM, Cooper ME, de Zeeuw D, et al. Effects of losartan on renal and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy. N Engl J Med 2001; 345 (12): 861–9.
Schrader J, Luders S, Kulschewski A, et al. The ACCESS study: evaluation of Acute Candesartan Cilexetil therapy in Stroke Survivors. Stroke 2003; 34 (7): 1699–703.
Lithell H, Hansson L, Skoog I, et al. The Study on Cognition and Prognosis in the Elderly (SCOPE): principal results of a randomized double-blind intervention trial. J Hypertens 2003; 21 (5): 875–86.
Adler AI, Stratton IM, Neil HA, et al. Association of systolic blood pressure with macrovascular and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 36): prospective observational study. BMJ 2000; 321 (7258): 412–9.
Parving HH. Diabetic nephropathy: prevention and treatment. Kidney Int 2001; 60 (5): 2041–55.
Andersen S, Brochner-Mortensen J, Parving HH. Kidney function during and after withdrawal of long-term irbesartan treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria. Diabetes Care 2003; 26 (12): 3296–302.
Kempen JH, O’Colmain BJ, Leske MC, et al. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among adults in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol 2004; 122 (4): 552–63.
EUCLID Study Group. Randomised placebo-controlled trial of lisinopril in normotensive patients with insulin-dependent diabetes and normoalbuminuria or microalbuminuria. Lancet 1997; 349 (9068): 1787–92.
Horio N, Clermont AC, Abiko A, et al. Angiotensin AT (1) receptor antagonism normalizes retinal blood flow and acetylcholine-induced vasodilatation in normotensive diabetic rats. Diabetologia 2004; 47 (1): 113–23.
Nagisa Y, Shintani A, Nakagawa S. The angiotensin II receptor antagonist candesartan cilexetil (TCV-116) ameliorates retinal disorders in rats. Diabetologia 2001; 44 (7): 883–8.
Chaturvedi N, Sjoelie AK, Svensson A. The Diabetic Retinopathy Candesartan Trials (DIRECT) programme, rationale and study design. J Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone Syst 2002; 3 (4): 255–61.
Lindholm LH, Ibsen H, Borch-Johnsen K, et al. Risk of new-onset diabetes in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension study. J Hypertens 2002; 20 (9): 1879–86.
Yusuf S, Sleight P, Pogue J, et al. Effects of an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor, ramipril, on cardiovascular events in high-risk patients: the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation study investigators. N Engl J Med 2000; 342 (3): 145–53.
Pepine CJ, Handberg EM, Cooper-DeHoff RM, et al. A calcium antagonist vs a non-calcium antagonist hypertension treatment strategy for patients with coronary artery disease: the International Verapamil-Trandolapril Study (INVEST). A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003; 290 (21): 2805–16.
Verdecchia P, Reboldi G, Angeli F, et al. Adverse prognostic significance of new diabetes in treated hypertensive subjects. Hypertension 2004; 43 (5): 963–9.
Acknowledgments
This review was supported by Takeda Chemical Industries, Japan.
P.A. Meredith has received research grants and honoraria for consultancy from a number of pharmaceutical companies including Abbott, Astra-Zeneca, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelhiem, GSK, MSD, Pfizer, Servier, and Takeda.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meredith, P.A. Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists Alone and Combined with Hydrochlorothiazide. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 5, 171–183 (2005). https://doi.org/10.2165/00129784-200505030-00004
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00129784-200505030-00004