Can ARBs reduce the adverse effects of high cholesterol?
Research in mice suggests that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) may reduce the adverse effects of hypercholesterolaemia in blood vessels. Some of the these effects are mediated via angiotensin receptors, and this study looked at the effects of losartan on platelet recruitment and activation in venules. Mice in the study were divided into two groups given normal or high-cholesterol diets for two weeks. Animals in the high-cholesterol group showed increased platelet accumulation and activation in venules. If treated with losartan, however, platelet recruitment was similar to that of those on a normal diet. The authors conclude that effects at angiotensin receptors contribute to the adverse effects of hypercholesterolaemia on blood vessels, and that losartan may have beneficial actions on these effects.
