title: Acute and chronic effects of ramipril and captopril in congestive heart failure.
abstract: We studied the acute and long-term effects of ramipril and captopril in 12 patients with moderate to severe congestive heart failure using an open, parallel design. Drug doses were titrated. Compared with baseline values, maximal haemodynamic and humoral effects after the first dose of both angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors were similar, but the effects of ramipril (5 mg) demonstrated a slower onset of action and a significantly longer duration than captopril (12.5 mg). After 3 months of treatment a single dose of 5 mg ramipril showed the same 24-hour haemodynamic profile as after the first dose, but the hypotensive effect was less marked. There was no plasma accumulation of ramiprilat. Serum creatinine and potassium remained stable, except for one patient whose renal function deteriorated on captopril treatment. Complex ventricular arrhythmias occurred in 11 patients and were unaffected after treatment with ramipril or captopril. Two patients died suddenly during ramipril therapy and one patient during captopril therapy. In summary, ramipril is an effective, long-acting angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, producing long-term haemodynamic effects in patients with congestive heart failure. Using an individualised dosage scheme, neither long-lasting hypotension nor deterioration of renal function occurred. No effect on ventricular arrhythmias was seen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology/Clinical Pharmacology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: de Graeff
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kingma
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Viersma
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wesseling
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Lie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002216:Captopril / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017257:Ramipril; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D004573:Electrolytes; D002216:Captopril; D017257:Ramipril