Endothelin and its antagonists in hypertension: can we foresee the future?

摘要: Endothelin-receptor antagonists may soon become a new therapeutic class of agents used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Although the first clinical trials are anxiously awaited position this family compounds in treatment essential or secondary forms hypertension, we dispose an impressive amount studies which plasma endothelin levels have been measured, addition chronic preclinical that provide general picture what can expect from these drugs. The experimental models do respond endothelin-receptor share vascular overexpression endothelin, seems directly linked with hypertrophy resistance arteries. In addition, salt sensitivity represent unbalanced condition between relaxing and constrictive properties renal endothelium favorably blockade. Thus, African-American hypertensives well be responsive target population for blood pressure control, also involved evolution endorgan damage by its potent vasoactive vasoproliferative properties. kidney, heart, large arteries brain therefore benefit drugs, but it is still unclear if goes beyond attributed reduction arterial pressure. Moreover, most performed so far looked at prevention end-organ damage, while very few addressed clinically relevant question regression lesions already installed disease process.