Cardiac protection by long-term treatment with captopril in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of long-term angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor treatment with captopril on cardiac function in acute myocardial infarction (AMI).


METHODS
One hundred and one patients with AMI who were admitted to hospital within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms with no cardiogenic shock were randomly allocated to captopril (n = 52; group I) and conventional treatment (n = 49; group II). Left ventricular (LV) systolic performance and diastolic transmitral flow velocity profiles were assessed by Doppler echocardiography at admission (1.2 +/- 1.1 days), before discharge (27 +/- 10 days) and during follow-up (363 +/- 31 days).


RESULTS
At one year follow-up, in group I LV end-diastolic volume decreased, and ejection fraction increased due to a disproportionate decrease in end-systolic volume. The incidence of cardiac dilatation was reduced. LV early diastolic filling velocity (E) increased and late atrial filling velocity (A) decreased, resulting in an elevation of E/A ratio. However, the mean values of LV systolic and diastolic functional parameters were unchanged in group II.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term treatment with captopril exerts a beneficial effect on cardiac protection for patients with AMI.
Shen
W
W
Department of Cardiology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, China.
Li
M
M
Hu
H
H
Zhang
X
X
Gong
L
L
D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002216:Captopril / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002216:Captopril