[Angiotensin II inhibitors for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension].

Specific antagonists of the renin angiotensin system have been used to investigate the role of this hormonal system in blood pressure homeostasis and in different types of experimental and clinical hypertension. Using this approach it was possible to show that renin via angiotensin participates actively in blood pressure maintenace, particularly following sodium depletion. Such antagonists, if available for oral administration and taken together with a diuretic, would be useful therapeutically.