[Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in angina pectoris]

In ten patients with angiographically demonstrated coronary heart disease exercise electrocardiograms were recorded before as well as two and four hours after administration of 5 or 10 mg Quinapril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI). This reduced the sum of ST-segment depressions from 16.3 to 11.6 mV (P less than 0.001). While the heart rate remained unchanged, blood pressure fell from 147/91 to 119/79 mm Hg and the angina-free exercise time was clearly prolonged. Altogether there was a reduction of the ischaemia reaction by 35%. This perhaps speaks for an anti-anginal effect of ACEI, which could be of importance in the management of both hypertension and heart failure. In addition, the ACE inhibitors might be used as anti-angina drugs.