Captopril in patients with terminal cardiac failure.

The clinical responses to captopril, an oral converting-enzyme inhibitor, in five patients with resistant heart failure are described. Earlier treatment consisting of digoxin, diuretics and vasodilators had proven inadequate, and each patient was considered end-stage. Captopril therapy resulted in clear-cut improvements in exercise tolerance, a decrease in decubitus and effort dyspnoea, increased energy, a sense of well-being, and enabled all to become ambulatory. Captopril is a major advance in the treatment of patients with severe resistant heart failure.