[Protective vascular effect of angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)].

To determine the mechanism of protective vascular effect of angiotensin receptor blocker(ARB), the effect of candesartan on blood pressure(BP), ultrasonographically assessed carotid intima-media thickness(IMT), plasma superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), and lipid peroxides(LPO) were measured, and compared with the effects of diuretics in 20 patients with essential hypertension. Candesartan significantly reduced BP similarly with diuretics. However, IMT was significantly reduced by candesartan, but not by diuretics. Also, candesartan increased SOD, and decreased LPO. There were significant relationship between changes in IMT and SOD, and LPO. These results suggest that protective vascular effect of ARB may be through its effect on angiotensin induced oxidative stress independent of BP reduction.