Benefits of early intervention in the progression of cardiovascular disease-role of rennin-angiotensin system blockade

ABSTRACT

It can be concluded that atherosclerosis is an insidious disease and it takes years to develop, through vessel wall injury and lipid accumulation. Early detection of CHD and certain risk factors like hypertension and insulin resistance are highly important and thus an early treatment of risk factors may alter prognosis significantly. RAS plays a central role in atherosclerosis, end-organ damage and thus cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. RAS blockade significantly reduces the risk of end-organ damage. ACE-Is and ARBs have a positive impact on cardiovascular morbidity, mortality and renal dysfunction. Newer application of ARBs like prehypertension and prediabetes are under investigations, with interesting new possibilities in the near future