Abstract
Angiotensin receptor antagonists (AT1-blockers) are considered as one of the major classes of antihypertensive drugs suitable for monotherapy as well as for combination treatment. AT1-blockers have comparable antihypertensive efficacy with other major classes of antihypertensive drugs.
AT1-blockers are considered by current guidelines of Czech society of hypertension altogether with ACE-inhibitors and calcium channel blockers as universal antihypertensive drug class. AT1-blockers has the lowest profile of side-effects among all antihypertensive drug classes and thus very high persistence to therapy.
Mechanisms of antihypertensive effects of AT1-blockers are discussed altogether with the results of large clinical trials and indications in the treatment of hypertension.