ACE inhibitor use in elderly patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction: problems and opportunities

The ACE inhibitors have been found effective in reducing the morbidity and mortality of both post-infarction patients and those with chronic systolic left ventricular dysfunction. However, their use is limited--particularly in elderly patients because of poor tolerance partly due to bradykinin-induced side-effects such as renal dysfunction, first-dose hypotension, and cough. Thus, the introduction of the angiotensin II type I receptor antagonists--that block the effects of angiotensin II without increasing bradykinin concentration--may be particularly important in the treatment of elderly patients. The role of the angiotensin II type I receptor antagonists in patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction is currently being explored in direct comparison with and in conjunction with the ACE inhibitors. Furthermore, important questions about the most effective dose of ACE inhibitor and ACE inhibitor use in conjunction with aspirin and the NSAIDs still have to be answered. Thus, although we have learnt much about the role of ACE inhibitors in heart failure treatment, we are still at an early stage in the application of this knowledge, particularly in elderly patients.