An ACE inhibitor drug used to treat hypertension and heart failure.
n. a drug used in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart failure. It inhibits the action of angiotensin (see ACE inhibitor), which results in decreased vasopressor (blood-vessel constricting) activity and decreased aldosterone secretion. Side-effects can include a persistent dry cough, a drastic fall in blood pressure, headache, dizziness, fatigue, and diarrhoea.
The ENZYME that converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II (see ANGIOTENSIN) is called angiotensin-converting enzyme. Angiotensin II controls the blood pressure and is the most potent endogenous pressor substance produced in the body; angiotensin I has no such pressor activity. Inhibition of the enzyme that converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II will thus have marked effects on lowering the blood pressure, and ACE inhibitors have a valuable role in treating heart failure when thiazides and beta blockers cannot be used or fail to work, especially after myocardial infarction (see HEART, DISEASES OF). Captopril was the ?rst ACE inhibitor to be synthesised: it reduces peripheral resistance by causing arteriolar dilatation and thus lowers blood pressure. Other drugs such as enalapril, lisinopril, cilazapril, quinapril and ramipril have since been developed. Some kidney disorders increase the production of angiotensin II and so cause HYPERTENSION.... angiotensin-convertingenzyme (ace) inhibitors
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