[Pharmacodynamics of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors]

ACEI form a group of antihypertensives which inhibit the angiotensin II (A II) production and thus not only reduce the blood pressure but exert also a positive metabolic and antiproliferative effect (A II is a proliferative hormone). They are therefore indicated nowadays in the treatment of essential and secondary hypertension, left-ventricular hypertrophy, chronic heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, insulin resistance and other disorders. Despite intensive studies we still do not know many, in particular mediated effects, of ACEI but these drugs have become one of the key groups in therapy.