[The long-term administration of perindopril improves the hemodynamic status of rats with heart failure].

The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of oral perindopril, 2 mg/kg, on systemic and regional hemodynamics by the radioactive microsphere (15 mu in conscious rats with chronic heart failure and falsely operated-on rats. Experimental heart failure was induced by embolization of coronary vessels with microspheres 21 days before the experiment. The results were compared with those obtained from rats subjected to sham surgical procedures. In congestive heart failure group, perindopril reduced mean blood pressure, total peripheral resistance and end-diastolic left ventricular pressure. Cardiac index was enhanced. Blood flow in the kidney, right ventricle, small intestine of the heart failure rats treated was increased. In sham-operated animals, perindopril reduced mean blood pressure, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and unchanged renal blood flow. At the same time perindopril unchanged blood flow in the skeletal muscles and brain in the sham-operated animals or heart failure rats. The agent reduced cerebrovascular resistance only in the embolization group.