title: Effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor alacepril on exercise capacity and neurohormonal factors in patients with mild-to-moderate heart failure.
abstract: 1. Alacepril is a long-acting, sulphydryl-containing angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Data are limited regarding the effects of alacepril on exercise tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of chronic alacepril treatment on exercise capacity and neurohormones in patients with CHF. 2. The effects of 12 weeks treatment with alacepril on clinical, echocardiographic and cardiopulmonary exercise variables were studied in 18 CHF patients (mean age: 63 +/- 2 years; New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I n = 6, class II n = 10, class III n = 2) in a cross-over fashion. Resting levels of plasma noradrenaline, renin-angiotensin system activity and natriuretic peptides were evaluated. 3. Treatment with alacepril significantly improved NYHA functional class and decreased cardiothoracic ratio (60.1 +/- 2.0 vs 58.1 +/- 1.9% for baseline vs alacepril, respectively; P < 0.01). Cardiac dimensions by echocardiogram were decreased after alacepril therapy. Peak Vo2 (17.7 +/- 1.2 vs 19.5 +/- 1.3 mL/min per kg; P < 0.01) and anaerobic threshold (11.7 +/- 0.6 vs 13.2 +/- 0.9 mL/min per kg; P < 0.01) increased with alacepril treatment. Plasma noradrenaline and plasma angiotensin II levels were not altered, but plasma aldosterone (77.7 +/- 13.5 vs 51.7 +/- 9.7 pg/mL; P < 0.01), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP; 86.5 +/- 20.3 vs 43.6 +/- 7.6 pg/mL; P < 0.05) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP; 222.7 +/- 59.3 vs 117.7 +/- 34.3 pg/mL; P < 0.05) levels decreased after alacepril treatment. 4. These results suggest that treatment with alacepril improves functional status and exercise capacity in patients with mild-to-moderate CHF. Neurohormones were favourably influenced by alacepril therapy, with significant decreases in plasma aldosterone, ANP and BNP levels.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan. kinugawa@grape.med.tottori-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kinugawa
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osaki
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Kazuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogino
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimoyama
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomikura
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Igawa
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hisatome
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shigemasa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002216:Captopril / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000097:blood*; D010361:Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D002216:Captopril; C046835:alacepril