Renin-angiotensin gene polymorphisms and neurohormonal inhibition

Abstract

Analyses of polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin system may never completely predict responsiveness to pharmacotherapy that blocks angiotensin-converting enzyme or the angiotensin receptor type 1. However, the pharmacogenetic studies that have been conducted to date are intriguing, and they illustrate the potential benefit of designing larger genome-wide clinical studies. Such studies will continue to define the role of renin-angiotensin pharmacogenetics in patients with heart failure due to underlying cardiac dysfunction.