THE INFLUENCE OF ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING E NZYME-INHIBITORS ON LEFT-VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC GLOMERULONEPHRITIS AND PRONOUNCED RENAL-FAILURE

This study compared the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors captopril versus enalapril an left ventricular (LV) muscle mass and LV systolic and diastolic function in is patients with prima ry glomerulonephritis and moderate chronic renal failure. The design w as a 6-8 week titration phase and 6-month maintenance phase. Mean myoc ardial mass calculated by M-mode echocardiography in the captopril gro up was 153+/-26 g/m(2) before, and 130+/-14 g/m(2) after 6 months of t reatment, in enalapril group 147+/-22 g/m(2) before, and 126+/-23 g/m( 2) after 6 months of treatment (p < 0.05). LV ejection fraction, early and late transmitral flow velocities and early to late LV inflow velo cities ratio were not significantly affected by both ACE inhibitors.