[Conversion enzyme inhibitors against the progression of renal and vascular diseases: yes but again]

Since the discovery at the end of the seventies of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), numerous clinical data became available in the indications for which these agents were initialy developed, taking into account the putative role of renin angiotensin system: first in severe hypertension, secondly in moderate hypertension and then in heart failure. At the same time, an increasing interest was raised for "evidence based medicine" leading to a change in clinical study design: from clinical documentation of effects based on intermediate end points such as blood pressure, serum lipids, serum electrolytes or physical training capabilities to clear demonstrations through double blind placebo controlled trial with a positive effect on morbi-mortality. This evolution was furthermore stimulated by advances of knowledge on physiopathological mechanisms as well as the emergence of new drugs within this therapeutic class both stimulating clinical research. In that prospective, three examples are obvious: treatment of myocardial infarction, slowing down of the progression of diabetic nephropathy and of chronic renal failure. All these new indications for ACEI were obtained though large morbi-mortality clinical studies which are reviewed in this article. Finally, clinical studies are running with ACEI in order to demonstrate a possible effect on primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular morbi-mortality in high risk populations results which should be available at the beginning of the next century.