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Minerva Medica 2003 August;94(4):251-8

Copyright © 2003 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The antihypertensive response to irbesartan treatment from a pharmacogenetic perspective

Kurland L.

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the Western world. Approximately half of all the people who have their 1st heart attack and 2/3 of those with their first stroke have high blood pressure levels. Hypertension affects approximately 25% of the adult population. By treating hypertension and risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease both mortality and morbidity can be reduced. Many drugs have proven to be effective in treating hypertension, although the individual patient's response to antihypertensive treatment varies over a wide range and cannot be predicted with methods used today. Between 30-60% of the blood pressure variation is determined by genetic factors. Also the variation in drug response is in part heritable, which defines pharmacogenetics. This review gives a general background to pharmacogenetics and its potential usage. In addition, results from recent pharmacogenetics studies on the antihypertensive effect of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist irbesartan are presented.