KININS AND CARDIOPROTECTION

During the past decade it was recognised that kinins are potent endoge nous vasoactive peptides with important cardioprotective actions which are of therapeutic relevance in the acute and chronic beneficial effe cts of ACE inhibitors. The effect of kinins is mediated through the re lease of autocoids from the endothelium, particularly nitric oxide (NO ). In this review article the cardioprotective effects of kinins and t heir importance for the therapeutic effects of ACE inhibitors are high lighted. (C) 1997 The Italian Pharmacological Society.