The evidence from this review suggests that there are no clinically meaningful BP lowering differences between available ARBs. The BP lowering effect of ARBs is modest and similar to ACE inhibitors as a class; the magnitude of average trough BP lowering for ARBs at maximum recommended doses and above is -8/-5 mmHg.  Furthermore, 60 to 70% of this trough BP lowering effect occurs with recommended starting doses. The review did not provide a good estimate of the incidence of harms associated with ARBs because of the short duration of the trials and the lack of reporting of adverse effects in many of the trials.
The antihypertensive effect and tolerability of candesartan cilexetil, a new generation angiotensin II antagonist, in comparison with losartan.
This multicentre study compared the antihypertensive effect and tolerability of the novel angiotensin II antagonist candesartan cilexetil with those of losartan and placebo. Men and women aged 20-80 years, with primary hypertension and sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 95-114 mm Hg after a 4-week placebo run-in period, were randomized to once daily double-blind treatment with candesartan cilexetil 8 mg (n=82), candesartan cilexetil 16 mg (n=84), losartan 50 mg (n=83) or placebo (n=85) for 8 weeks. Blood pressure was measured 6 and 24 h after dose, i.e. at peak and trough. Differences between treatments were analysed by analysis of covariance, and the primary effect variable was reduction in trough sitting DBP. Compared with placebo treatment, trough DBP was significantly reduced by a mean (95% CI) of 8.9 (6.0; 11.8) mm Hg with 8 mg and 10.3 (7.4; 13.2) mm Hg with 16 mg candesartan cilexetil. The 8 mg dose was as effective as losartan 50 mg, while 16 mg candesartan cilexetil was significantly more effective, with a difference between treatments of 3.7 (0.8; 6.7) mm Hg (p=0.013). The placebo corrected trough/peak ratio was 0.9-1.1 with candesartan cilexetil and 0.7 with losartan. Candesartan cilexetil was similarly well tolerated as placebo. In conclusion, candesartan cilexetil 8 mg or 16 mg once daily is an effective and well tolerated antihypertensive treatment. Candesartan cilexetil 16 mg is significantly more effective than losartan 50 mg once daily.