Angiotensin II inhibition. Treatment of congestive cardiac failure in a high-renin hypertension.

A patient with intractable congestive cardiac failure secondary to renovascular hypertension and severe coronary artery disease was infused with the competitive antagonist of angiotensin II, saralasin acetate. The infusion produced an impressive increase in cardiac output and left ventricular stroke work index in parallel with a striking decrease in the systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance, the coronary resistance, and the myocardial oxygen consumption. It is suggested that angiotensin inhibition may present advantages over other forms of treatment of congestive cardiac failure in selected cases.