The relationship between urotensin II plasma immunoreactivity and left ventricular filling pressures in coronary artery disease.

The role of urotensin II (U-II)--a vasoactive, mitogenic, and inotropic, peptide--in the pathophysiology of heart failure is controversial. The present study explores the relationship between plasma U-II immunoreactivity (U-IIIR) and hemodynamics in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Thirty-six patients with CAD-3 undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and 36 medical patients (MED group) with CAD-1 to CAD-3 during right heart catheterization were studied.

Effects of orally applied candesartan cilexetil on central responses to angiotensin II in conscious rats.

Objective: In the present study, we investigated the ability of the peripherally administered angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist, candesartan cilexetil, to block central effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) in conscious rats.

Design And Methods: Candesartan cilexetil was administered orally by gavage at doses of 0.1, 1, 10 and 30 mg/kg.