[Hemodynamic study of a single oral dose of enalapril in patients with heart failure]

Clinical and hemodynamic studies were carried out for the purpose of evaluating the effects of enalapril in the treatment of chronic heart failure. Enalapril 10-20 mg was given once to 10 patients with moderate to severe congestive heart failure (coronary 6, hypertensive heart disease 2 and idiopathic congestive cardiomyopathy). Hemodynamic studies were done on the first day after drug administration and the same dose was maintained for 2 weeks. The results showed a decrease of mean BP of 18.29% (P less than 0.01), CVP 40.4% mPAP 23.9%, PCWP 41.2%, SVR 39.9% and PVR 41.3% respectively (P less than 0.001). Cardiac index increased 44.16% (P less than 0.001). The therapeutic action lasted more than 24 hours after a single dose. No further drop of BP was found weeks later, 6 patients in NYHA class III and 2 in class IV improved to class II. No severe side effects were found. The results showed that enalapril is well tolerated after a single dose and its therapeutic action lasts 2 weeks with improvement both in hemodynamics and subjective symptoms.