**Hypertension and Renin-Angiotensin System**

Roberto de Barros Silva

*Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty of Ribeirao Preto FCFRP/USP, São Paulo, Brazil* 

## **1. Introduction**

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The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) participates in numerous biological activities. Among these is the pathophysiological mechanisms of hypertension, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, diabetic nephropathy and inflammatory disorders. These pleiotropic effects led to the development of new therapeutic approaches to inhibit the actions of this system. This chapter aims to relate the inflammatory process with the RAS thus focusing on the effects of antihypertensive drugs in the therapeutic and / or prevention of pathophysiological conditions. Also discussed in this chapter also the pharmacodynamic of ACE inhibitors, ARB inhibitors and Direct Renin Inhibitors, as well as a review of the RAS.

For a better knowledge of the system, it is necessary to first discuss the history of RAS components and focusing on general biochemistry, cell biology in its overall effects.
