[Angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonists as antiinflammatory and gastric protection drugs].

Background: The antiinflammatory and gastric cytoprotector effect of angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonist, such as candesartan, losartan and valsartan was studied.
Material and Methods: Wistar rats were ramdomly assigned to receive: (1) 96 degrees ethanol; (2) oral indometacin, (3) solid food (pellets) during two hours and subcutaneous indometacin (production of ulcers in the gastric antrum), (4) Carrageen footpad edema.
Results: The three ATI receptor angiotensin antagonists yielded gastric cytoprotection against 96 degrees ethanol, almost total gastrointestinal protection against oral indometacin, prevented gastric ulcers formation in the antrum induced by subcutaneous indometacin, remarkable antiinflammatory response against neutrophil infiltration on the gastrointestinal mucosa, and anti-inflammatory effect in carrageen footpad edema.
Conclusions: The AT1 receptor antagonists of angiotensin II are gastric cytiprotectors with a remarkable antiinflammatory effect.