[Cardioactive hormones: bradykinin]

Kinins are autacoids affecting B2-receptors of many organs. They are involved in autocrine and paracrine mechanisms which are crucial in organ protection. Because of rapid degradation their effects are only short acting. Therefore, inhibition of degradation by ACE-inhibitors increases their pharmacological effects, and is of significant importance for therapy of cardiovascular diseases. Blood pressure lowering and cardioprotective effects are most important and can be explained by actions on the endothelium. The participation of kinins in blood pressure decrease during ACE inhibitor treatment can be estimated from animal experiments at about 50%. With respect to regression of cardiovascular hypertrophy or increase in insulin sensitivity their participation might be even more significant. The role of kinins in cardiovascular diseases as a pathophysiologic correlate has to be elucidated in further investigations.