Reviving the use of aldosterone inhibitors in treating hypertension in obesity

Abstract

Obesity is a multifactorial disease associated with hypertension. In the obese population, the incidence of hypertension is high and resistant hypertension is commonly observed. Mechanisms to explain the resistance to current antihypertensive treatments are still poorly understood. Emerging knowledge of the role of aldosterone in controlling blood pressure in obesity may have therapeutic benefit. Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) inhibitors are currently used as the fourth line of treatment. Clinical studies summarized in this short review suggest that MR antagonists have a strong efficacy in decreasing blood pressure in the hypertensive obese population and could be used as a primary antihypertensive in obesity.

Keywords: aldosterone; hypertension; obesity.