[Captopril in the treatment of heart failure]

Abstract

The author takes the characteristic hemodynamic features and neurohumoral factors associated with heart failure as the starting point for the discussion. He specifies fundamentals of the current strategies and goals of the management of heart failure. Treatment with vasodilatator and ACE inhibitors has paved novel way for treatment of heart failure, because it is not only able to alleviate the symptoms, but also to improve hemodynamic parameters and increase survival. Initiation of treatment at early stage (silent ventricular dysfunction) is able to prevent the development of manifest signs of heart failure. Captopril, a classical ACE inhibitor, is suitable for modern treatment of heart failure, as well for prevention of myocardial remodelling following acute myocardial infarction.