title: The effect of enalapril on cardiac arrhythmias in patients with congestive heart failure.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of enalapril on the frequency of ventricular premature beats in patients with congestive heart failure. The study group consisted of 30 patients with a mean age of 47 +/- 0.6 years with chronic congestive heart failure (NYHA classes III and IV) due to primary dilated cardiomyopathy and cardiomyopathy in the course of ischaemic heart disease. Initial therapy with digitalis and diuretics was supplemented with enalapril at a dose of 5-20 mg daily. Initially and at three months after enalapril, the following parameters were evaluated: NYHA functional class, the presence of premature ventricular beats in 24-hour ECG recording and left ventricular function by echocardiography. The scheduled therapy was completed by 23 patients; in 5 patients, the intake was discontinued because of hypotension, one patient died after 14 days due to worsening heart failure, and one patient was submitted for pacemaker implantation. Clinical improvement manifesting itself by a shift to lower NYHA classes was found in 20 patients. A reduced number of premature ventricular beats was observed in 52% of the patients. Termination of cardiac arrhythmias, especially of complex beats, was parallel to the circulatory improvement.
authors.affiliation: 1st Cardiac Department, University School of Medicine, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sniezek-Maciejewska
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Czarnecka
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mroczek-Czernecka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawecka-Jaszcz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000188:drug therapy; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000187:drug effects; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004656:Enalapril