title: Use of captopril to estimate renin-angiotensin-aldosterone activity in the pathophysiology of chronic heart failure.
abstract: Although the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system has been implicated in the pathophysiology of chronic heart failure, the factors influencing the extent of renin activity have not been clarified. In the present study, we evaluated 34 patients with severe chronic congestive heart failure in terms of baseline plasma renin activity (PRA). No uniform relationships between PRA and urinary sodium excretion have been established. Although baseline PRA did not correlate with the baseline hemodynamic values, the extent of hemodynamic improvement following acute oral captopril (CPT) therapy (25 mg) was highly correlated with baseline PRA. The onset of action was rapid, so that the initial acute response could be readily assessed and at the same time could be used as a means to estimate baseline renin-angiotension-aldosterone activity. For long-term therapy, however, the response to CPT must be assessed in the context of several potentially simultaneous factors that might either enhance or compromise its effectiveness.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002216:Captopril / 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; D011392:Proline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D011392:Proline; D002216:Captopril; D012964:Sodium; D012083:Renin