The evolution of angiotensin blockade in the management of cardiovascular disease.

Dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system is implicated in many cardiovascular and renal pathologies. Discovery of the renin-angiotensin system represents a major advance in the understanding of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, leading to the development of the anti-angiotensin medications: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and direct renin inhibitors. Clinical trials have shown that drugs in each of these classes have a protective effect on vascular organs that surpass the protection associated with the lowering of blood pressure alone.