Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in renal and hypertensive disorders

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been available for about 10 years for the treatment of various forms of hypertension. Essential hypertension responds particularly well to the administration of this group of drugs, especially when combined with diuretics. A pronounced fall in blood pressure can be achieved in renovascular hypertension with high plasma renin levels; when ACE inhibitors were administered in diagnosed renal artery stenosis there was a significant rise in plasma renin activity on the affected side. Renoparenchymatous hypertension and hypertension in diabetes mellitus can also be improved by the long-term administration of ACE inhibitors, and the progression of renal failure in these disorders seems to be slowed down. Side effects such as neutropenia, exanthema, hearing disorders and pronounced hypotension with an acute deterioration in renal function are substance- and dose-dependent; regular monitoring of the patients greatly reduces their occurrence.