Abstract

A REVIEW ON ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTING ENZYME INHIBITORS INDUCED COUGH

Vasavi Kandukuri*, Tabitha Sharon and Padmalatha Kantamneni

ABSTRACT

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) are widely used in hypertension, congestive heart failure and in myocardial infarction. Although these ACEIs are well tolerated, one out of five patients discontinues ACEIs due to side effects mainly chronic cough. However, the pathophysiology of ACEIs induced cough remains controversial, but it likely involves the protussive mediators such as bradykinin and substance P agents that are degraded by ACE and thereby accumulate in the upper respiratory tract or lung when enzyme is inhibited and prostaglandins, the production of which stimulated by bradykinin. ACEIs are known to possess different chemical structures, change in structure of the drug can bring change in its adverse drug reaction profile. In this review the incidence and severity of ADR was suggested in patients suffering from essential hypertension with ACEIs.

Keywords: ACEIs, cough, bradykinin, hypertension, patients.