title: Placental passage of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Placental passage of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors temocapril and enalapril was investigated in a placental perfusion model.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an open system a placental lobe was perfused on both the maternal and the fetal side with a blood-free medium containing the test substances plus a reference substance on the maternal side. Six placentas were perfused with temocapril and five with enalapril. The drugs were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors crossed the human placenta in the maternal-fetal direction in similar quantities. Temocapril showed the same pharmacokinetic characteristics as enalapril.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was the first study to quantify the placental transfer of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. These antihypertensive agents should not be taken during pregnancy, to avoid any potential hazards to the fetus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reisenberger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Egarter
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sternberger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eckenberger
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eberle
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Weissenbacher
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000983:Antipyrine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004656:Enalapril / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010477:Perfusion; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013841:Thiazepines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D013841:Thiazepines; D004656:Enalapril; C055603:temocapril hydrochloride; D000983:Antipyrine