Question

Twenty percent (20%) of hypertensive patients have low renin plasma activity yet stillrespond to drugs that interfere with the RAAS pathway. What other components of the RAAS mechanism may the drug be working through to lower blood pressure?

Answer 1

Renin converts angiotensinogen, which is produced in the liver, to the hormone angiotensin I. An enzyme known as ACE or angiotensin-converting enzyme found in the lungs metabolizes angiotensin I into angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes blood vessels to constrict and blood pressure to increase.

Renin by itself does not really affect blood pressure. Instead, it floats around and converts inactive forms of angiotensin into angiotensin I. These inactive forms of angiotensin, which are produced by the liver, are not able to alter the blood pressure until renin changes them into angiotensin I.