EFFECT OF ENALAPRIL ON PLASMA ATRIAL-NATRIURETIC-PEPTIDE IN LATE RECOVERY PHASE OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

A 12 week randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study on the effect of enalapril (5-20 mg daily) on the concentration of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide level and activity of the sympathetic nervous system and renin angiotensin system was done on 27 patients who had suffered an uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction two to six months earlier. None of our patients needed drug treatment for heart failure, but their exercise capacity was markedly limited. Plasma neurohormone concentrations at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment were also compared with those of healthy controls. Concentrations of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentrations remained high throughout the study in those patients on beta-blockers. Enalapril treatment had no definite effect on the concentrations of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide or other neurohormone.