Candesartan: a new-generation angiotensin II AT1 receptor blocker: pharmacology, antihypertensive efficacy, renal function, and renoprotection.

Candesartan, which is the active compound formed during adsorption of candesartan cilexetil, is one of the new generation of angiotensin II AT1 receptor blockers. Candesartan is an insurmountable blocker with a slow dissociation from the AT1 receptor, and it has been shown to effectively reduce BP in humans and in a variety of genetic and experimental models of hypertension. Possible mechanisms for a better effect in BP reduction compared with losartan may be the insurmountable characteristics of binding or more pronounced renal effects, but these need further evaluation. Candesartan has favorable effects on renal function demonstrated in both humans and animals, and has also been shown to protect the kidney in several models of renal injury. The beneficial effects exerted by candesartan could even be demonstrated in experimental models of hypertension in which BP is affected little, if at all. The renoprotective effects have been observed in the regulation of gene expression, as well as in biochemical and histologic evaluations.