CLINICAL STUDIES
High- versus low-dose ACE inhibition in chronic heart failure
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of imidapril
Dirk J. van Veldhuisen, MD, PhD, FACCa,1,
Sabine Genth-Zotz, MD*,
Jan Brouwer, MD, PhDa,
Frans Boomsma, PhD ,
Tilo Netzer, PhD ,
Arie J. Man in ’t Veld, MD, PhD,
Yigal M. Pinto, MD, PhD||,
K. I. Lie, MD, PhD and
Harry J. G. M. Crijns, MD, PhDa
a Department of Cardiology/Thoraxcenter, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
* the II. Medical Clinic, Johannes Gutenberg-University Clinic, Mainz, Germany
COEUR/Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Clinical Research, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
|| the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
the Department of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Manuscript received May 5, 1998;
revised manuscript received July 13, 1998,
accepted August 6, 1998.
Address for correspondence: Dr. D.J. van Veldhuisen, Department of Cardiology/Thoraxcenter, University Hospital Groningen, PO Box 30 001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
d.j.van.veldhuisen{at}thorax.azg.nl
Objectives. To determine dose-related clinical and neurohumoral effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), we conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study of three doses (2.5 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg) of the long-acting ACE inhibitor imidapril.
Background. The ACE inhibitors have become a cornerstone in the treatment of CHF, but whether high doses are more effective than low doses has not been fully elucidated, nor have the mechanisms involved in such a dose-related effect.
Methods. In a parallel group comparison, the effects of three doses of imidapril were examined. We studied 244 patients with mild to moderate CHF (New York Heart Association class II–III: ±80%/20%), who were stable on digoxin and diuretics. Patients were treated for 12 weeks, and the main end points were exercise capacity and plasma neurohormones.
Results. At baseline, the four treatment groups were well-matched for demographic variables. Of the 244 patients, 25 dropped out: 3 patients died, and 9 developed progressive CHF (3/182 patients on imidapril vs. 6/62 patients on placebo, p < 0.05). Exercise time increased 45 s in the 10-mg group (p = 0.02 vs. placebo), but it did not significantly change in the 5-mg (+16 s), and 2.5-mg (+11 s) imidapril group, compared to placebo (+3 s). Physical working capacity also increased in a dose-related manner. Plasma brain and atrial natriuretic peptide decreased (p < 0.05 for linear trend), while (nor)epinephrine, aldosterone and endothelin were not significantly affected. Renin increased in a dose-related manner, but plasma ACE activity was suppressed similarly (±60%) on all three doses.
Conclusions. Already within 3 months after treatment initiation, high-dose ACE inhibition (with imidapril) is superior to low-dose. This is reflected by a more pronounced effect on exercise capacity and some of the neurohormones, but it does not appear to be related to the extent of suppression of plasma ACE.
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Abbreviations and Acronyms
| | ACE | = angiotensin-converting enzyme | | ANP | = atrial natriuretic peptide | | ATLAS | = Assessment of Treatment of Lisinopril and Survival | | BNP | = brain natriuretic peptide | | CHF | = chronic heart failure | | NYHA | = New York Heart Association | | PWC | = physical (or pulse) working capacity |
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