title: [ACE inhibition: mechanisms of cardioprotection in chronic experimental heart failure].
abstract: In 1984 we demonstrated in an animal model of chronic congestive heart failure due to rapid right ventricular pacing in chronically instrumented dogs, that the inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system by captopril from the onset of pacing has beneficial effects on hemodynamic and neurohumoral mechanisms. In contrast to control animals, dogs on a chronic therapy with the ACE-inhibitor showed no significant increase in peripheral vascular resistance, a reduced decline of cardiac output and no significant increase of mean pulmonary arterial pressure. Chronic ACE-inhibition led to a significant reduction of the secretion of aldosterone, to an attenuation of the activation of the sympathetic activity and to a prevention of inappropriate stimulation of vasopressin secretion. This was associated with a reduction in symptoms and a lack of fluid retention, whereas control animals developed pleural infusions and ascites. Similar beneficial effects have been demonstrated in rats following myocardial infarction during a long-term therapy with captopril on hemodynamic parameters, heart size, and survival. Thus, early inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in heart failure may be an attractive approach for treatment in patients with ventricular dysfunction even before symptoms develop.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Universitätsklinik Würzburg.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Riegger
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000502:physiology; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D004285:Dogs; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor
vernacular_title: ACE-Hemmung: Mechanismen einer Kardioprotektion bei chronischer experimenteller Herzinsuffizienz.