title: Effects of the ACE inhibitor quinapril on echocardiographic variables in horses with mitral valve insufficiency.
abstract: Twenty horses with mitral valve insufficiency, but without signs of congestive heart failure, and five horses without signs of heart disease were examined before and after medication with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. The examination included echocardiography assessment as well as heart catheterization. The echocardiographic examination included B-mode, M-mode, conventional and colour Doppler techniques. For 8 weeks, all horses were treated with Accupro 20 (active substance: Quinapril) at an oral dose rate of 120 mg/horse/day. A follow-up of the horses with mitral valve insufficiency after 8 weeks revealed a statistically significant increase in the stroke volume and the cardiac output as well as a decrease in regurgitation velocity time integral (VTI). The regurgitation blood velocity remained the same. The severity of mitral valve insufficiencies revealed a moderate improvement in five horses, from moderate to mild, after therapy. Significant changes of cardiac dimension (B-mode) and shortening fraction (M-mode) before and after treatment could not be observed. The owners' judgement of the horses' performance was that of a minor improvement. In the horses without clinical findings the results of examination before and after treatment remained the same.
authors.affiliation: Equine Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany. heidrun.gehlen@tiho-hannover.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gehlen
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Vieht
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stadler
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D000077583:Quinapril; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000077583:Quinapril