• Eva Lonn, Roya Shaikholeslami, Qilong Yi, Jackie Bosch, Brian Sullivan, Paul Tanser, Alison Magi, and Salim Yusuf.
• Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. lonnem@mcmaster.ca
• J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2004 Jun 16;43(12):2200-6.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to assess the effects of ramipril on left ventricular mass (LVM) and function in vascular disease patients with controlled blood pressure (BP) and with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).BackgroundIncreased LVM and left ventricular (LV) volume and decreased LVEF predict clinical events. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors reduce LVM and LV volume and preserve LVEF in patients with hypertension and/or LV dysfunction, but have not been studied in patients with controlled BP and preserved LVEF.MethodsWe compared the effects of two doses of ramipril (10 mg/day and 2.5 mg/day) versus placebo in 506 patients with vascular disease on echocardiographic measures of LVM and LV function.ResultsBaseline BP and LVEF were similar, 131/76 mm Hg and 58%, in all treatment groups. After four years, LVM index increased by 3.98 +/- 2.08 g/m2 in the placebo and by 4.16 +/- 1.86 g/m2 in the ramipril 2.5 mg/day groups and decreased by 2.02 +/- 2.25 g/m2 in the ramipril 10 mg/day group (p = 0.02). The changes in LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were 4.16 +/- 2.55 ml and 5.31 +/- 1.67 ml in the placebo, -0.43 +/- 2.75 ml and 2.90 +/- 1.45 ml in the ramipril 2.5 mg/day, and -5.90 +/- 2.93 ml and -1.90 +/- 1.55 ml in the ramipril 10 mg/day groups (p = 0.02 and p = 0.001). The changes in LVEF were -2.02 +/- 0.72%, -1.54 +/- 0.74%, and -0.17 +/- 0.72%, respectively (p = 0.01).ConclusionsRamipril has beneficial effects on LV structure and function in vascular patients with controlled BP and with preserved LVEF.

39 keywords...

hide…