Captopril in patients with terminal cardiac failure.
The clinical responses to captopril, an oral converting-enzyme inhibitor, in five patients with resistant heart failure are described. Earlier treatment consisting of digoxin, diuretics and vasodilators had proven inadequate, and each patient was considered end-stage. Captopril therapy resulted in clear-cut improvements in exercise tolerance, a decrease in decubitus and effort dyspnoea, increased energy, a sense of well-being, and enabled all to become ambulatory. Captopril is a major advance in the treatment of patients with severe resistant heart failure.
D000368:Aged; D002216:Captopril / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011392:Proline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D011392:Proline; D002216:Captopril