title: Long-term tolerability of benazepril in dogs with congestive heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the tolerability of long-term administration of benazepril in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 162 dogs with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV heart failure caused by chronic valvular disease (CVD) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) were enrolled. Benazepril (minimum dosage, 0.25 mg/kg) or placebo were administered orally once daily for up to 34 months. In this paper, we report results of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, potassium and urea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups were matched at baseline (p>/=0.18). Plasma creatinine concentrations were lower during treatment with benazepril versus placebo for all dogs (p=0.14) and every sub-group tested (NYHA II, III or IV; CVD; DCM; initial creatinine >124 mumol/L), although statistical significance was not reached (p=0.14-0.6). However, significantly (p=0.035) more cases of creatinine >124 mumol/L during treatment occurred with placebo (47%) as compared to benazepril (30%). Plasma ALT and urea values did not differ between groups for all dogs (p>0.5) or any sub-group (p=0.23-1.0). Plasma potassium values did not differ between groups for all dogs (p>0.5). Although differences approached statistical significance for potassium in some sub-groups (p=0.07-0.1), there were no consistent differences between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Benazepril was well tolerated during long-term therapy in dogs with CHF and no specific precautions appear to be necessary regarding plasma ALT, creatinine, potassium or urea. The possible action of benazepril in improving renal function (evidenced via lower plasma creatinine) merits further investigation.
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pouchelon
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martignoni
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chetboul
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lugardon
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rousselot
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Corlouer
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bussadori
authors.forename: Marie-Hélène
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Piette
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brownlie
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martel
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Garcin
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amberger
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Labadie
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Collet
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drouard
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lombard
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hervé
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Strehlau