AUTHOR=Georgiopoulos Georgios , Katsi Vasiliki , Oikonomou Dimitrios , Vamvakou Georgia , Koutli Evangelia , Laina Aggeliki , Tsioufis Constantinos , Nihoyannopoulos Petros , Tousoulis Dimitrios
TITLE=Azilsartan as a Potent Antihypertensive Drug with Possible Pleiotropic Cardiometabolic Effects: A Review Study
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology
VOLUME=7
YEAR=2016
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2016.00235
DOI=10.3389/fphar.2016.00235
ISSN=1663-9812
ABSTRACT=Background: Hypertension related cardiovascular (CV) complications could be amplified by the presence of metabolic co-morbidities. Azilsartan medoxomil (AZL-M) is the eighth approved member of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), a drug class of high priority in the management of hypertensive subjects with diabetes mellitus type II (DMII).
Methods: Under this prism, we performed a systematic review of the literature for all relevant articles in order to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and possible clinical role of AZL-M in hypertensive diabetic patients.
Results: AZL-M was found to be more effective in terms of reducing indices of blood pressure over alternative ARBs or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors with minimal side effects. Preclinical studies have established pleiotropic effects for AZL-M beyond its primary antihypertensive role through differential gene expression, up-regulation of membrane receptors and favorable effect on selective intracellular biochemical and pro-atherosclerotic pathways.
Conclusion: Indirect but accumulating evidence from recent literature supports the efficacy and safety of AZL-M among diabetic patients. However, no clinical data exist to date that evince a beneficial role of AZL-M in patients with metabolic disorders on top of its antihypertensive effect. Further clinical studies are warranted to assess the pleiotropic cardiometabolic benefits of AZL-M that are derived from preclinical research.