Angiotensin receptor blockers: Their current and future place in clinical practice

This article presents an overview of the angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), the newest class of antihypertensive drugs. Hypertension expert Henry R. Black, MD, examines the ARBs' mechanism of action and side effect profile, as well as their place in therapy, particularly in relation to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. He also discusses areas in which data on ARBs are still lacking, along with ongoing trials of ARBs that will supply new data in many of these areas and perhaps expand their indications.