Survival after myocardial infarction in rats: captopril versus losartan.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to compare the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition versus angiotensin II receptor blockade on survival in rats with myocardial infarction.


BACKGROUND
The effects of specific nonpeptide angiotensin receptor blocking agents on survival after myocardial infarction are unknown.


METHODS
Rats with a moderate to large myocardial infarction were treated with captopril (2 g/liter drinking water, n = 87) or losartan (2 g/liter drinking water, n = 96). Therapy was initiated immediately after coronary artery ligation and continued for 1 year.


RESULTS
Uncensored median survival in captopril-treated rats that survived at least 48 h was 201.5 days versus 236.0 days for losartan-treated rats (p = 0.066). Median survival censored for rats with lung infections was 201.5 days in captopril-treated rats versus 243.0 days for losartan-treated rats (p = 0.028). Conscious hemodynamic measurements and remodeling data obtained at 1 year in the surviving rats (n = 5 for captopril; n = 9 for losarton) revealed no differences in heart weight, left ventricular pressure, dP/dt, cardiac index, time constant of relaxation or any variable of left ventricular remodeling. The only differences (mean +/- SD) were an increase in heart rate (293 +/- 19 vs. 266 +/- 15 beats/min, p < 0.05) and a decrease in peak developed pressure (153 +/- 21 vs. 180 +/- 16 mm Hg, p < 0.05) in the losartan-treated rats.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that in this experimental model of heart failure, there was no significant difference between survival after angiotensin II receptor blockade with losartan and with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition with captopril.
Milavetz
J J
JJ
Department of Internal Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tuscon, Arizona 85723, USA.
Raya
T E
TE
Johnson
C S
CS
Morkin
E
E
Goldman
S
S
D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002216:Captopril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019808:Losartan; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D007093:Imidazoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D002216:Captopril; D019808:Losartan