[Bradykinin and ventricular function]

Kinins are vasodilator peptides implicated in many physiological and physiopathological processes such as blood pressure regulation and that of the coronary circulation and inflammatory reactions. Kinins play an essential role in ventricular function as they counteract the effects of angiotensin II during myocardial ischaemia, ventricular remodelling and severe cardiac failure, emphasising the value of treatment favouring local endogenic production of bradykinin such as ACE inhibitors, neutral endopeptidase inhibitors and antagonists of AT1 receptors of angiotensin II.