ACE-INHIBITOR - VERSUS ANGIOTENSIN-II BLOCKER-INDUCED COUGH AND ANGIOEDEMA

OBJECTIVE: To compare the tolerability of angiotensin-converting enzym e (ACE) inhibitors with that of angiotensin II (AII)-receptor blockers and the incidence of cough and angioedema associated with their use t hrough review of published data. DATA SOURCES: References were identif ied through a MEDLINE search of articles published between January 197 5 and April 1997. Bibliographies of pertinent references were also rev iewed. RESULTS: Results of placebo-controlled and comparative trials o f the AII blockers demonstrate that they are at least as effective as ACE inhibitors for hypertension, but exhibit an incidence of cough and absent or rare angioedema like that of placebo. CONCLUSIONS: In the 1 0 comparative trials described, all reported a lower incidence of coug h with AII blockers than with ACE inhibitors. Angioedema was not repor ted in the comparative trials described.