EFFECTS OF ACE-INHIBITION ON THE HEART

Inhibition of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) results in suppr ession of the formation of angiotensin II and delay of the degradation of bradykinin. Hence, the pharmacological effects of ACE inhibitors a re attributable to both of these mechanisms. This is a brief review of the haemodynamic, neurohumoral and metabolic alterations following AC E inhibition, with an attempt to separate those attributable to the an giotensin-mediated actions and those attributable to bradykinin-mediat ed actions as they relate to prevention or attenuation of cardiac dama ge in hypertension, myocardial ischaemia and congestive heart failure.