Effect of ramipril and molsidomine on ventricular ectopic activity in patients with chronic heart failure

Ventricular ectopic activity was studied in 40 patients with NYHA class II- III heart failure after myocardial infarction and left ventricular ejection fraction 45% or less. Twenty patients received ramipril (5 mg o.d.) and 20 - molsidomine (6 mg t.i.d.). Twenty-four hours ECC was recorded before and after 12 and 48 weeks of treatment. Ventricular premature beats were asses sed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Ramipril was associated with ins ignificant decrease of total number of VPBs at the account of their pairs a nd episodes of ventricular tachycardia (number of episodes of ventricular t achycardia decreased by 52,7% and 63,6% in 12 and 48 weeks, respectively). Molsidomine produced no significant effect on ventricular arrhythmias. Thus ramipril but not molsidomine affected enhanced ventricular ectopic activit y in patients with chronic heart failure and low left ventricular ejection fraction.