Aldosterone
Angiotensin II
Diabetic Nephropathies
Hypertension
Losartan

Losartan

Losartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of several medical conditions, including hypertension and diabetic nephropathy. Losartan inhibits angiotensin II induced vasopressin release, adrenal catecholamine release, rapid and slow pressor responses, thirst, cellular hypertrophy and hyperplasia, noradrenergic neurotransmission, and sympathetic tone increase. In addition, losartan inhibits angiotensin II induced vasoconstriction and the effects of aldosterone, thereby lowering blood pressure. ARBs exhibit renoprotective effects in type 2 diabetes. In hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy, losartan inhibits angiotensin II-induced cardiac remodeling, consequently reducing the risk of stroke in these patients. This activity reviews the use of losartan, including indications, mechanism of action, contraindications, pharmacokinetics, adverse event profiles, eligible patient populations, and monitoring. This activity also highlights the critical role of the interprofessional healthcare team in managing hypertension and diabetic nephropathy with losartan.

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