RAAS Inhibition and Mortality in Hypertension: from Pharmacology to Clinical Evidence

Volume 2, Apr 2013

Roberto Ferrari, MD, PhD, IRCCS, Lumezzane, Italy

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) regulates the body’s hemodynamic equilibrium, circulating volume, and electrolyte balance, and is a key therapeutic target in hypertension, the world’s leading cause of premature mortality (1). Hypertensive disorders are strongly linked with an overactive RAAS (2), and RAAS inhibitors, like angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), are routinely used to treat high blood pressure (BP) (3). BP reduction is one of the main goals of current European hypertension guidelines (4).

Volume 2, Number 2, Pages: 64-72