Abstract

REVIEW OF ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTING ENZYME INHIBITORS IN TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION.

Khadijeh Tanhaei Saeid*

ABSTRACT

The renin-angiotensin system plays a major role in cardiovascular disease and during the past decade extensive research investigated the possible clinical benefit of the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) in different clinical conditions. Accordingly, these agents have been recommended for the treatment of heart failure, hypertension, and acute and chronic myocardial infarction. The aim of this document is to review the rationale and clinical evidence for the use of ACE-I in patients with cardiovascular disease. ACE inhibitor compounds block either the synthesis of Angiotensin II or the blocking of Angiotensin II to its receptor site. The essential effect of these agents on the renin Angiotensin system is to inhibit the conversion of inactive Angiotensin I to active Angiotensin II. ACE inhibitors have proven being effective both in lowering blood pressure and in preventing complications and organ protection, either alone or in various combination regimens with other antihypertensive pharmacological agents. Although they have been developed as antihypertensive drug substances, they showed their effectiveness and usefulness in other conditions such as congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, atherosclerotic vascular disease, diabetic nephropathy. The data compiled in this review may be very helpful in further studies on ACE inhibitors. The comprehension in this review enlightens the evolution of ACE inhibitors, their existence and pipeline drugs of ACE inhibitors.

Keywords: heart failure, myocardial infarction, atherosclerotic vascular disease, diabetic nephropathy.