title: Effects of enalapril on clinical status, biochemistry, exercise performance and haemodynamics in heart failure.
abstract: The effects of enalapril on clinical well-being, treadmill exercise performance, haemodynamic measurements, hormone levels, and plasma biochemistry in patients with moderate heart failure, were assessed in a 12-week placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Maintenance frusemide and digoxin treatment was continued throughout the study. Compared with placebo, enalapril treatment improved clinical status and increased exercise capacity. The most obvious haemodynamic change was a fall in pulmonary artery wedge pressure and pulmonary artery pressure. Enalapril-induced increases in left-ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac index, and falls in systemic arterial pressure, were small. Of the hormone indices measured, plasma renin activity rose 4-fold, angiotensin II and aldosterone fell slightly, and plasma catecholamines were unaltered by enalapril. Plasma potassium increased on average by 0.3 mmol/L during enalapril therapy. No adverse clinical or biochemical effects were observed. Enalapril has a sustained beneficial action in patients with moderate heart failure.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004656:Enalapril / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002395:Catecholamines; D004656:Enalapril