Effect of long-term therapy with irbesartan and enalapril on diastolic left ventricular function in patients with chronic heart failure

Effects of angiotensin II receptor blocker irbesartan and angiotensin conve rting enzyme inhibitor enalapril on parameters of left ventricular diastoli c function were assessed in a framework of comparative clinical-hemodynamic study of these agents in patients with chronic heart failure. Left ventric ular diastolic function was determined by doppler echocardiography with the use of conventional methods in 41 patients with NYHA class II-IV heart fai lure and left ventricular ejection fraction <40%. In 6 months both drugs pr oduced favorable action on parameters of left ventricular diastolic functio n both in patients with restrictive and nonrestrictive types of diastolic d ysfunction. Differences between effects of enalapril and losartan on parame ters of diastolic filling were insignificant.