Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in the Treatment of Mild Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are nowadays widely employed for the treatment of arterial hypertension. They exhibit comparable levels of efficacy and better tolerability when compared with the other antihypertensive agents. In mild arterial hypertension they have been shown to be more efficacious than nonpharmacological therapy that is recommended as the first-step therapeutic approach for most cases of this type of hypertension. Potential advantages for the control of associated metabolic risk factors and specific renal and cardiac effects make these drugs suitable for the first step pharmacological therapy on mild hypertension.

Key Words:

• ACE inhibitors
• renin
• arterial hypertension
• heart failure
• renal failure
• quality of life
• cost-effectiveness