Hemodynamic response to intravenous enalaprilat in patients with severe congestive heart failure and mitral regurgitation.

The hemodynamic response 1 hour after 1.25 mg of intravenous (IV) enalaprilat was examined in 20 patients (mean age 75 years) with severe congestive heart failure (CHF) and mitral regurgitation (MR), secondary to ischemic heart disease (NYHA Class IV). Patients were classified into two groups based upon the magnitude of MR as derived from Doppler color flow imaging: Group I (n = 13) had severe MR and Group II (n = 7) had moderate MR. Acute therapy significantly reduced systemic vascular resistance index in both groups and provided effective afterload reduction. Although cardiac and stroke volume indices increased in both groups, an improved forward flow was significant only for Group I (cardiac index 2.2 +/- 0.5 to 2.7 +/- 0.5 l/min/m2, p < 0.02). The magnitude of MR, acutely reduced in all patients, was similarly significant only for Group I (56 +/- 10% to 31 +/- 12%, p < 0.01). The reduction of both pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and mean arterial pressure was significant for both groups. This study supports the use of IV enalaprilat, a parenteral angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, as an effective and rapidly acting vasodilator in the management of selected patients with chronic heart failure and MR who require immediate hemodynamic improvement.