Background: Cardiac angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is activated by an increase in wall stress and is involved in remodeling processes. Heart failure is often treated with ACE inhibitors and diuretics although diuretic treatment could activate the renin-angiotensin system (RAS).
Aims: To examine the effects of diuretic treatment on cardiac and circulating RAS in post-infarction chronic heart failure.
Methods: Myocardial infarction was produced by coronary artery ligation in spontaneously hypertensive rats. The rats were randomly assigned to receive either ramipril (1 mg/kg/day), furosemide (4 mg/kg/day), or combination therapy for 6 weeks, commencing 2 weeks after infarction.
Results: All three treatment protocols equivalently attenuated reactive hypertrophy of the right ventricle and ventricular septum and improved left ventricular systolic function. Both cardiac ACE mRNA and activity were significantly increased in untreated rats. This increase was attenuated by both ramipril and furosemide and further depressed by the combination. The increase in activity was completely inhibited by either agent alone. Plasma renin activity was upregulated by ramipril or ramipril plus furosemide but not influenced by infarction or furosemide alone.
Conclusions: Furosemide and ramipril significantly reduced cardiac ACE and remodeling. Diuretics work favorably and do not interfere with the effects of ACE inhibitors. Possibly, a reduction in wall stress due to decreased volume overload accounts for the effects of diuretics on cardiac ACE in the treatment of post-infarction remodeling in hypertensive hearts. These data suggest a new mechanism for the frequently observed beneficial effect of diuretics in heart failure.