Blumenthal M
Cardiovascular Clinical Research and Development, Bristol Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-4000, USA.
Am J Hypertens. 1997 Oct;10(10 Pt 2):289S-298S. doi: 10.1016/s0895-7061(97)00336-1.
The prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF), a debilitating condition associated with impaired quality of life and markedly shortened life expectancy, is increasing. The goals of therapy for CHF are reducing symptoms, improving functional capacity, and slowing the progression of the condition. In most cases, this is best achieved with a combination of diuretic and vasodilator therapy. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have several advantages over other vasodilatory agents and are becoming widely used for treating CHF. The most recently introduced ACE inhibitor, fosinopril, is at least as effective as enalapril, and its dual and compensatory route of excretion is particularly advantageous in patients with renal insufficiency. Fosinopril may also have particular benefits in the prevention of CHF, as it has beneficial effects on cardiac function that may help delay the onset of overt cardiac failure.
