[Effect of angiotensin II receptor antagonist on heart failure]

Abstract

An angiotensin II receptor antagonist, candesartan has been shown to improve left ventricular dysfunction and exercise tolerance. The assessment of response to candesartan heart failure in Japan(ARCH-J) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 6-month study enrolled 305 patients who has not been previously treated with ACE inhibitors, who had not been adequately controlled with ACE inhibitors or who were intolerant of ACE inhibitors. The incidence of confirmed progression of heart failure was significantly lower in the candesartan group(7.4%) than in the placebo group(22.2%), with risk reduction 63.8. Cardiovascular events were also significantly lower during treatment with candesartan than with placebo(10.8% vs 22.9%) with risk reduction of 50.2%. ARCH-J study showed that candesartan cilexetil, 8 mg/day, significantly improved the progression of heart failure when compared with placebo.