Captopril (Tensiomin) in the treatment of chronic heart failure of ischaemic heart disease patients.

The authors used Captopril (Tensiomin, Egis Pharmaceuticals, Budapest) therapy in seven patients suffering from chronic heart failure of ischaemic etiology. As controls, seven patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were involved in the study. All 14 patients received digitalis, diuretic, and isosorbide dinitrate therapy but their condition aggrevated in spite of the therapy. The above-mentioned therapy was completed with daily 3 x 12.5-mg or 3 x 25-mg oral Captopril doses. Significant improvement proved by chest X-ray, echocardiography, and clinical data was observed in four of the ischaemic heart disease patients and three of the dilated cardiomyopathic patients. In other two patients each the improvement was temporary, after 6 weeks of therapy deterioration of the disease was observed. Notable change was not observed in response to Captopril in one ischaemic and two primary cardiomyopathic patients. Tensiomin may be considered as one of the drugs of primary importance in the treatment of chronic congestive heart failure.