[The clinical usefulness of RAAS inhibitors in hypertensive patients].

Many kinds of antihypertensive drugs have been used recently. JSH2009 supported that we should prescribe one of these drugs [calcium channel blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, diuretics and beta-adrenergic blockers] for hypertensive patients at first. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the ARBs and ACE inhibitors and discuss the clinical evidence related to the use of ACE inhibitors and ARBs. In accordance with JSH2009, we summarize the clinical backgrounds which we should use ARB or ACE inhibitors for hypertensive patients with: left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, old myocardial infarction, protein urea, renal disturbance, chronic cerebral stroke, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndromes and the elderly.