Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.4.15.1 (ACE)
 18,300 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is secreted by the atria in mild and moderate cardiac failure but, during the evolution of the cardiac failure, the ventricles are also recruited and secrete ANF. In order to investigate the relation between plasma ANF and Doppler echocardiographic parameters of severe cardiac failure, the concentrations were measured simultaneously in 20 patients with NYHA Class III and IV cardiac failure (10 due to ischaemic and 10 due to primary dilated cardiomyopathy) despite optimal medical treatment including an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. Overall, there was a weak negative correlation between the plasma ANF concentrations and the decrease in right ventricular surface area (r = -0.58, p less than 0.005, n = 20 patients). This relation was highly significant in ischaemic cardiomyopathy (r = -0.81, p less than 0.002, n = 10 patients) and not significant in primary dilated cardiomyopathy (r = -0.29, NS, n = 10 patients). No relationship was observed between plasma ANF and other echocardiographic parameters (atrial surface area, right and left ventricular dimensions, left ventricular ejection fraction and mass) or with Doppler aortic indices (acceleration, maximum and mean velocities, aortic velocity-time integrals). However, plasma ANF was related to the velocity of mitral regurgitant jets (r = -0.70, p less than 0.01) which is dependent on left ventricular pump function. These results show that plasma ANF concentrations are only related to right ventricular systolic function and the velocity of mitral regurgitation in patients with severe cardiac failure.
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PMID:[Correlations between plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic factor and right ventricular function in patients with severe cardiac failure]. 153 2

In addition to the underlying pathophysiological processes that cause myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy, structural, biochemical, neurohormonal and haemodynamic influences and interrelations promote progression of the heart failure syndrome. Independent of their symptomatic benefits, diuretics, digitalis, ACE inhibitors, PDE inhibitors and dopamine agonists exert specific influences on factors that retard or accelerate progression of congestive heart failure (CHF). Important factors that indicate or promote progression of CHF are discussed here, with special emphasis on therapeutic options. Interference with baroreceptor function (digitalis, ACE inhibitors), the RAA system (ACE inhibitors), the sympathetic nerve system (dopamine agonists, ACE inhibitors, digitalis) can potentially retard progression of CHF, while other therapeutic options, such as PDE inhibitors and diuretics, might accelerate progression of left ventricular dysfunction and CHF.
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PMID:Therapeutic alternatives in dilated cardiomyopathy--a review of current options. 168 Jun 88

Infectious heart diseases in childhood are--with less than 1% of hospital admissions--rare, but serious diseases. Among several causes of myocarditis in our region virus myocarditis plays the most important role. Besides of the acute course an autoimmune mediated chronic myocarditis and the transition to dilated cardiomyopathy are observed. The patho-histological assessment depends also on subjective influences. Clinical diagnosis is based on cardiac symptoms (Adams-Stokes, congestive heart failure, LV-dilatation), ECG-changes with increased enzyme levels and positive virus-serology or endomyocardial biopsy. Immunoserology and -histology as well as in-situ-hybridization can support diagnosis, echocardiography and eventually heart catheterization exclude other causes. In respect to therapy, ACE-inhibitors are a substantial improvement of conventional therapy of heart failure, while immunosuppressive therapy of chronic myocarditis has to assessed.
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PMID:[Myocarditis in childhood]. 202 60

General considerations in planning therapy of heart failure include identification of the cause, rapidity of onset, and the age of the patient. Neonates and young infants with acute onset heart failure frequently develop acidaemia, respiratory compromise or failure, and metabolic derangements such as hypoglycaemia, hypocalcaemia or hypomagnesaemia. These complications require early recognition and urgent therapy. The diagnosis of heart failure in neonates with ductal dependent congenital cardiac lesions (such as coarctation of the aorta, hypoplastic left heart syndrome or pulmonary valve atresia) allows the early institution of alprostadil (prostaglandin E1) therapy to maintain patency of the ductus arteriosus, which stabilises these infants before surgical therapy. Classic therapy for infants with heart failure due to a large left-to-right shunt consists of salt restriction, diuretics and digoxin. If this treatment is inadequate an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (e.g. captopril) is added to therapy. The question then arises whether captopril and diuretics should be the initial therapy and digoxin added if this treatment fails. Acute heart failure may occur in the immediate postoperative period after cardiac surgery or may complicate acute overwhelming infections. Therapy consists of volume loading, vasodilator or inotropic agents. Heart failure due to various forms of chronic dilated cardiomyopathy usually responds to treatment with salt restriction, diuretics, digoxin and captopril. Acute deterioration requires treatment with vasodilators and/or inotropic agents. Heart failure in fetuses may occur from sustained supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, and may respond to treatment of the mother with antiarrhythmic agents such as digoxin or procainamide.
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PMID:New drug approaches to the treatment of heart failure in infants and children. 218 7

A decrease in cardiac output in patients with congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy is compensated by stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. The increase in plasma norepinephrine and depletion of norepinephrine in the myocardium as well as the disturbance of beta-adrenal and baroreceptor function reflect the limits of the sympathetic nervous stimulation. Together with augmented levels of angiotensin II and vasopressin, this stimulation leads to a significant increase in systemic vascular resistance. Sustained stimulation of at least one of these mechanisms can cause further impairment of the left ventricular function. The severity and prognosis of congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy is expressed by the plasma norepinephrine concentration and by its myocardial depletion. Ultimately, activation of the compensatory mechanisms provides the basis for therapeutic approaches: 1. reduction of afterload and systemic vascular resistance and/or 2. diminution of the sympathetic nervous activity. For about the last ten years, ACE inhibitors have been used as pharmacological treatment in addition to positive inotropic and vasodilating substances. Captopril, one of the first orally applicable drugs, reduces left ventricular filling pressure, pulmonary capillary pressure, systemic vascular resistance and increases the cardiac output. Beside the hemodynamic improvement, a decrease in plasma norepinephrine and aldosterone can be observed. Vasodilators and alpha-blocking agents can also reduce afterload and systemic vascular resistance in patients with congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy, and may lead to hemodynamic improvement. The main limitations of their long-term application are relatively short duration of action, reflex activation of the renin-angiotensin system due to vasodilation and induction of tolerance.
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PMID:[Sympathetic activity in patients with heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: effect of ACE inhibitors and other vasodilators]. 219 17

Alterations in the vasopressor system found in cardiac failure are part of compensatory measures that may modify pharmacologic-therapeutic response. Therefore, in 64 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, we investigated its enhanced activity in different clinical stages of the disease as compared to normal controls. Patients in NYHA class II (n = 20) demonstrated increased activity of the sympathico-adrenal, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, vasopressin, and atrial natriuretic factor systems, while maximum values were found in patients of NYHA class IV (n = 24). In these patients, noradrenaline was enhanced by a factor of 7, adrenaline by a factor of 2, plasma-renin-activity by a factor of 7, angiotensin II by a factor of 2.5, aldosterone by a factor of 5, vasopressin by a factor of 1.5, and ANF by a factor of 4 as compared to normal controls. Clinical NYHA classes correlated to a certain degree with the various plasma hormones. Patients treated with an aldosterone inhibitor in addition to digitalis and diuretics revealed significantly higher values for aldosterone, vasopressin, and angiotensin II as compared to those who received digitalis and diuretics alone. The addition of ACE-inhibitor therapy resulted in a decrease of angiotensin II, aldosterone, and vasopressin. Plasma catecholamines and ANF, however, did not change under the influence of cardiac medication. Diuretic treatment in NYHA class II patients reduced plasma volumes (p less than 0.01). Plasma volume in NYHA class IV patients only was found to be higher than in normal controls. Thus, analysis of the neurohumoral system can aid both in the identification of the clinical degree of dilated cardiomyopathy and in its optimal therapy.
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PMID:The vasopressor system in patients with heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy--influence of the clinical stage of disease and of chronic drug treatment. 253 2

Ventricular arrhythmias (VA) are a major cause of sudden death. Life-threatening VA may be present in a variety of both acute and chronic conditions in which cardiac function is compromised: during acute myocardial infarction and subsequent reperfusion; some weeks after acute myocardial infarction, due to residual damage (scar formation with zones of heterogeneity); and as a consequence of congestive heart failure (CHF) resulting from myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertension or other causes. Symptomatic suppression of potentially life-threatening VA is unlikely to decrease mortality, since classical antiarrhythmic drugs have failed, so far, to improve life expectancy. Drugs that influence the underlying causes of CHF seem to have a better chance of reducing mortality. There is evidence that ACE inhibitors may exert beneficial effects on arrhythmogenicity by several mechanisms in these situations. Under acute ischaemic conditions both cellular damage and undue increases in circulating catecholamines and angiotensin II may be prevented. This has been demonstrated in various animal models and confirmatory clinical evidence is emerging. Two week after experimental myocardial infarction, the pig heart is less vulnerable to programmed electrical stimulation when ACE inhibitors are administered. Finally, in CHF a variety of proarrhythmic factors, such as left ventricular dysfunction, raised catecholamine levels and, in particular, decreased potassium concentrations, are influenced beneficially by ACE inhibitors.
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PMID:Cardiac arrhythmias--a new indication for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors? 267 45

Recent evidence suggests that the most common form of idiopathic cardiomyopathy in our altitudes, the dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), is a post-infectious autoimmune disease which is triggered by virus infections. In animal experiments, the development of the coxsackie virus B3 myocarditis to a congestive cardiac insufficiency resembling the clinical picture of DCM was demonstrated. In mice, species-dependent varying disease courses could be observed, which point to a genetically different behaviour of the animals' immunological reactions, either humoral or T-cell mediated immune reactions being responsible. In comparison with non-DCM patients, patients with DCM and chronic myocarditis exhibit significantly higher coxsackie virus antibody titres. Obviously, also a differently long viral persistency in the cardiac muscle plays a role, as enterovirus-specific RNA was detected in myocardial biopsies from patients with DCM. Along with myocardial fibroses, endomyocardial biopsies in DCM frequently reveal mononuclear cellular infiltrates, which, however, only in 20-25% of the cases may be regarded as chronic persisting myocarditis. The clinical and paraclinical findings in DCM and in the so-called latent cardiomyopathy are presented. In congestive heart failure, the best therapeutic results are achieved by the ACE inhibitors, along with vasodilator agents, digitalis glycosides and diuretics. Ultima ratio is the orthotopic heart transplantation, as it is only this intervention that will be able to improve the primarily bad prognosis decisively. Whether the treatment with immunosuppressive drugs exerts an influence upon the prognosis, has thus far remained an open question.
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PMID:[Dilated cardiomyopathy--heart muscle disease of unknown origin or an autoimmune disease? New aspects of etiology, pathogenesis and clinical practice]. 268 30

The purpose of this retrospective study was to consider impaired renal function in patients with severe congestive heart failure after converting enzyme inhibition and to emphasize the characteristics of this population. The study concerned 26 patients (pts), 72.5 +/- 8.1 years old, with a severe congestive heart failure (NYHA Class IV). Before treatment serum creatinine was slightly increased and the introduction of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) - Captopril 58.9 +/- 17.3 mg/j or enalapril 9.2 +/- 4.4 mg - impaired renal function from 132.0 +/- 50.7 mumol/l to 183.5 +/- 139.3 mumol/l (n = 26; p less than 0.05). Patients were separated in 3 groups: in group I; 15 pts, serum creatinine remained unchanged under ACEI in despite of the significant decrease of blood pressure (BP); from 140.7 +/- 24.0/82.5 +/- 13.4 to 120.3 +/- 12.8/71.8 +/- 8.7 mmHg (p less than 0.01). The cause of heart failure was an ischemic heart disease (IHD) in 15 patients (chi 2 test, p less than 0.05), a dilated cardiomyopathy in 4 pts and an aortic or mitral valvular regurgitation in 2 pts. In contrast renal function was significantly impaired in group II; serum creatinine increased from 120.8 +/- 25.2 to 189.0 +/- 80.7 mumol/l under ACEI. BP remained unchanged 136.9 +/- 29.0/78.1 +/- 4.9 and 118.7 +/- 13.6/75.6 +/- 7.6 mmHg respectively before and after treatment. There was 4 pts with dilated cardiomyopathy, 4 pts with mitral or aortic valvular regurgitation and only one with IHD. The introduction of an ACEI in two pts--group III--with severe tricuspid regurgitation induced an acute and reversal renal failure (serum creatinine at 600 mumol/l).
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PMID:[Renal insufficiency and treatment of persistent cardiac insufficiency with converting enzyme inhibitor]. 273 17

Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were measured in patients with organic heart disease undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Independent of nature and duration of the disease (valvular heart disease, congestive cardiomyopathy) plasma ANP levels were closely related to the severity of cardiac failure. Furthermore, plasma ANP levels were found to be negatively correlated with the cardiac index and to be positively correlated with right and/or left atrial and with pulmonary artery pressures. During physical exercise (bicycle ergometer) a marked increase of plasma ANP levels was observed, which was closely related to increments in mean pulmonary artery pressure. This rise in plasma ANP levels during physical exercise was not attenuated in patients with already elevated resting plasma concentrations of ANP. In patients with congestive cardiomyopathy, afterload-reduction by ACE-inhibition resulted in changes of central hemodynamics, which were closely reflected by venous concentrations of ANP. The measurement of plasma ANP levels may serve as an indicator of the severity of cardiac failure. Plasma concentrations of ANP, however, are neither helpful in establishing the etiology of the underlying heart disease nor in differentiating left and right heart failure. However, in cases of already established organic heart disease plasma ANP levels may be used as a marker for assessing the efficacy of the therapeutic regimen.
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PMID:[Does the measurement of plasma ANP have a diagnostic or prognostic value in patients with organic heart disease?]. 297 Jan 74


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