title: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition as an Adjunct to Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
abstract: Epidemiological studies in older individuals have found an association between the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition (ACE-I) therapy and preserved locomotor muscle mass, strength, and walking speed. ACE-I therapy might therefore have a role in the context of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR).
  
  
  
  To investigate the hypothesis that enalapril, an ACE inhibitor, would augment the improvement in exercise capacity seen during PR.
  
  
  
  We performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who had at least moderate airflow obstruction and were taking part in PR, were randomized to either 10 weeks of therapy with an ACE inhibitor (10 mg enalapril) or placebo.
  
  
  
  The primary outcome measurement was the change in peak power (assessed using cycle ergometry) from baseline. Eighty patients were enrolled, 78 were randomized (age 67 ± 8 years; FEV148 ± 21% predicted), and 65 completed the trial (34 on placebo, 31 on the ACE inhibitor). The ACE inhibitor-treated group demonstrated a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (Δ, -16 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI], -22 to -11) and serum ACE activity (Δ, -18 IU/L; 95% CI, -23 to -12) versus placebo (between-group differences, P < 0.0001). Peak power increased significantly more in the placebo group (placebo Δ, +9 W; 95% CI, 5 to 13 vs. ACE-I Δ, +1 W; 95% CI, -2 to 4; between-group difference, 8 W; 95% CI, 3 to 13; P = 0.001). There was no significant between-group difference in quadriceps strength or health-related quality of life.
  
  
  
  Use of the ACE inhibitor enalapril, together with a program of PR, in patients without an established indication for ACE-I, reduced the peak work rate response to exercise training in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
authors.affiliation: 1 National Institute for Health Research Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust and Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Katrina J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: 1 National Institute for Health Research Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust and Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.|2 Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Victoria M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Meyrick
authors.affiliation: 1 National Institute for Health Research Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust and Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Bhavin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: 1 National Institute for Health Research Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust and Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gulam S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Haji
authors.affiliation: 3 Institute for Sport, Exercise and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: Kawah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 3 Institute for Sport, Exercise and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.affiliation: 1 National Institute for Health Research Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust and Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.|4 Harefield Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit, Harefield Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: William D-C
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Man
authors.affiliation: 1 National Institute for Health Research Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust and Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Polkey
authors.affiliation: 1 National Institute for Health Research Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust and Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicholas S
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3235-0454
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Hopkinson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D004656:Enalapril
keywords: COPD; exercise; rehabilitation; renin–angiotensin system