The US Food and Drug Administration has approved use of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril (Capoten) for patients with left ventricular dysfunction after a myocardial infarction. ACE inhibitors, widely used for treatment of hypertension, in recent years have also been used for treatment of heart failure (Medical Letter, 35:40, 1993).

Benazepril (Lotensin - Ciba-Geigy), fosinopril (Monopril - Mead Johnson), and - Hoechst, Upjohn) are new angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for once-a-day treatment of hypertension. Three other ACE inhibitors, captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), and lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) were previously available in the USA for this indication. Captopril and enalapril have also been approved by the FDA for treatment of congestive heart failure.

Moexipril hydrochloride (Univasc - Schwarz Pharma), an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of. It is the eighth ACE inhibitor to be marketed in the USA.

- Merck; Zestril - Stuart), a new angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for once-daily treatment of . Two other ACE inhibitors, captopril (Capoten - Squibb) and e

Quinapril (Accupril - Parke-Davis), an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of hypertension. ACE inhibitors are now widely used for this indication (Medical Letter, 33:33, 1991).

Irbesartan (Avapro - Sanofi/Bristol-Myers Squibb) is the third angiotensin II receptor antagonist to become available in the USA for oral treatment of hypertension. Losartan (Cozaar) and valsartan (Diovan) were marketed earlier. Eprosartan (Teveten - SmithKline Beecham) has been approved by the FDA but not marketed.

The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors captopril (Capoten - Squibb) and enalapril (Vasotec - Merck) are now widely used to treat chronic congestive heart failure that has not responded adequately to digitalis and diuretics (Medical Letter, 30:13, Jan 29, 1988). Recently, some cardiologists have debated whether ACE inhibitors should also be used as first-line agents for treatment of this condition (WW Parmley et al, J Am Coll Cardiol, 12:265, July 1988).

Captopril (Capoten - Bristol-Myers Squibb), an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor previously available for treatment of hypertension, has now been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of diabetic nephropathy in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease in the United States.

Hypertensive emergencies include hypertensive encephalopathy, intracranial hemorrhage with hypertension, aortic dissection, acute pulmonary edema with hypertension, acute cardiac ischemia with hypertension, malignant hypertension and severe hypertension after vascular surgery; hypertensive crisis due to pheochromocytoma or occurring during pregnancy is not discussed in this review. Although immediate reduction of blood pressure is necessary in hypertensive emergencies, an excessive decrease may cause stroke, myocardial infarction or visual changes. Most experienced clinicians aim...

Trandolapril (tran doe la pril; Mavik - Knoll) has become the ninth angiotensin-converting- enzyme (ACE) inhibitor to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of hypertension.