24-Hour ACE Inhibition: Current and Future Perspectives

This volume is devoted to ACE inhibitors, a developing and important new class of drugs in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The many available ACE inhibitors differ in their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, however they all share the ability to inhibit ACE and thus prevent the formation of angiotensin II. Due to angiotensin's multiple primary and secondary biological effects, ACE inhibitors are associated with changes in haemodynamics and renal, hormonal and sympathetic activities. Furthermore, experimental and clinical investigations suggest that ACE inhibitors achieve a wide range of favourable effects in the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure. This book introduces Lisinopril as the only non-sulphhydril, non-pro-drug ACE inhibitor. It provides 24-hour blood pressure control and indicates a low incidence of adverse side-effects. Although many questions in connection with ACE inhibitors are still under investigation, current information points to the potential clinical advantages of ACE inhibitors in reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.