Critical assessment of ACE inhibitors. Part 2.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are now widely used for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. They are of particular value in treating hypertensive patients with left ventricular dysfunction, and in diabetics where they have been shown to delay the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Differences in the metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics between the various ACE inhibitors generally do not translate into significant clinical differences in the majority of patients. However, fosinopril may be the preferred ACE inhibitor in patients with significant renal dysfunction because of a reduced requirement for dosage reduction. The duration of action of ACE inhibitors is determined by two properties, the plasma half-life and the affinity of binding to tissue ACE. All of the ACE inhibitors (with the possible exception of captopril) can provide satisfactory 24-hour blood pressure control in the majority of patients with mild to moderate hypertension when given once daily. Lisinopril provides consistently better 24-hour control of blood pressure than either captopril or enalapril. Evidence for superior 24-hour blood pressure control over enalapril has not been as well established for the other ACE inhibitors. Captopril may be preferred for initiating therapy in patients with severe heart failure who are at risk of first dose hypertension because of its rapid onset of action and relatively short duration of action. There is evidence, however, that perindopril may have a low risk of first dose hypertension in heart failure because of its gradual onset of action. Long-acting ACE inhibitors may be preferable for chronic therapy of heart failure. All of the ACE inhibitors have a low incidence of adverse effects in both young and elderly patients, and there is no convincing evidence of differences in tolerability between the drugs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)