- admitted to icu prior to randomization - illness symptoms beginning more than 4 days prior to randomization - pregnancy - breast feeding - major hypersensibility to angiotensin receptor blockers (arbs) - systolic blood pressure < 100mmhg - potassium greater than 5.5 meq/l - ast and/or alt > 3 times the upper limit of normal - serum creatinine higher than 3 mg/dl - current treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (acei) or arb

- admitted to icu prior to randomization - illness symptoms beginning more than 4 days prior to randomization - pregnancy - breast feeding - major hypersensibility to angiotensin receptor blockers (arbs) - systolic blood pressure < 100mmhg - potassium greater than 5.5 meq/l - ast and/or alt > 3 times the upper limit of normal - serum creatinine higher than 3 mg/dl - current treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (acei) or arb