title: The clinical use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
abstract: Through an integrative understanding of cardiovascular pathophysiologic characteristics at the multiorgan level, significant achievements in cardiovascular therapeutics have been achieved and enabled the rationale design and development of drugs such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). In this article, we present a detailed review of the physiologic features of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), ACE inhibitors and ARB clinical pharmacologic characteristics, and specific diseases in which they are considered to be the standard of the care as supported by important clinical trial data. It is envisioned that an updated and detailed understanding of ACE inhibitors and ARBs will facilitate their successful use in the treatment of heart failure, myocardial infarction, hypertension, renal failure, and diabetic nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Rajiv A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Kowey
mesh_terms: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors