Table 1.

Indications of the seven approved angiotensin receptor blocker (listed in order of date of appearance on the market)89,90

	Essential hypertension	Heart failure	Cardiovascular prevention	Nephropathy
Losartan	X	X	X	X
		Symptomatic NYHA II–IIIa	↓ stroke risk in LVH	Hypertensive, type II diabetics (↑ creatinine and/or albuminuria ≥300 mg/day)
Valsartan	X	X
		Symptomatic NYHA II–IIIb
		X
		Asymptomatic if recent MI and LVEF ≤ 40%
Candesartan	X	X
		If LVEF ≤ 40%a
Irbesartan	X			X
				Hypertensive, type II diabetics, (↑ creatinine and/or albuminuria ≥30 mg/day)
Olmesartan	X
Telmisartan	X		X
			↓ MI and stroke risk in high CV risk and/or diabetic patients with target organ damage
Eprosartan	X

Notes:

^aAs add-on therapy to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or as an alternative to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients unable to tolerate angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors;

^bAs add-on therapy to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors when beta-blockers cannot be used or as an alternative to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients unable to tolerate angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors;

↓ indicates decrease.

Abbreviations: ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; ACE-I, ACE inhibitor; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; CV, cardiovascular; MI, myocardial infarction; LVH, left ventricular hypertrophy.