Comparative effects of ACE inhibitors and an angiotensin receptor blocker on atherosclerosis and vascular function

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2001 Apr;6(2):175-81. doi: 10.1177/107424840100600209.

Abstract

Background: Both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I(s)) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB(s)) provide vascular protection. This study was designed to compare ACE-I(s) with widely differing tissue affinity (captopril and quinapril) and an ARB (losartan) on vascular protection against the adverse effects of high cholesterol.

Methods and results: Forty-two New Zealand rabbits on a 0.5% cholesterol diet were randomized into control, captopril (10 mg/kg/d), quinapril (0.3 mg/kg/d), and losartan (8 mg/kg/d) groups for 14 weeks. Captopril, quinapril, and losartan significantly attenuated aortic lipid lesions (P=0.001). Captopril and quinapril were more effective than losartan in preserving vascular relaxation.

Conclusions: Captopril, quinapril, and losartan had similar protective effects against atherogenesis. Captopril and quinapril were more effective than losartan in preserving vascular function. Increased bradykinin by ACE inhibition may be responsible for this improved vascular endothelial function.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists*
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Antihypertensive Agents / pharmacology
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arteriosclerosis / physiopathology
  • Arteriosclerosis / prevention & control*
  • Captopril / pharmacology
  • Captopril / therapeutic use
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Isoquinolines / pharmacology
  • Isoquinolines / therapeutic use
  • Kinins / metabolism
  • Losartan / pharmacology
  • Losartan / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Quinapril
  • Rabbits
  • Receptors, Angiotensin / metabolism
  • Tetrahydroisoquinolines*
  • Vasoconstriction / drug effects*
  • Vasodilation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Isoquinolines
  • Kinins
  • Receptors, Angiotensin
  • Tetrahydroisoquinolines
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Cholesterol
  • Captopril
  • Losartan
  • Quinapril