Adverse Effects of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors

Abstract

The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are a group of effective drugs with a unique mechanism of action. These drugs have proven to be useful for hypertension and congestive heart failure. Early clinical trials of captopril used doses that are now known to be inappropriately high, and dose-related adverse effects were observed frequently. The recognition that lower doses are effective has reduced the incidence of adverse reactions and resulted in improved patient tolerance. When patients are properly selected and correctable risk factors are removed, serious side effects are uncommon. Unfortunately, the early reputation of nephrotoxicity persists, as does the belief that significant blood dyscrasias, endocrine effects and rash are serious risks for the average patient. After wide use of captopril, enalapril and lisinopril, and investigational trials of nearly a dozen newer agents, a sufficiency of clinical observation, experimental evidence and accurate postmarketing recording of events is accumulating to allow insight into the major toxicities with regard to more intelligent patient selection, more rational dosing and proper identification of risk factors. The most common adverse reactions are cough and skin rash. It appears that the agents are generally not cross-reactive with regard to skin rash, although it is not clear whether this effect is drug-specific or class-specific with regard to cough. Statistically but not clinically significant lowering of haemoglobin and hematocrit is common; these effects are inconsequential in most patients. Neutropenia, once thought to be prevalent, now appears to be so only in patients with autoimmune or collagen-vascular disease; the majority of patients outside these groups are at low risk. Hyperkalaemia is a frequent occurrence. This should not be surprising in view of the effect of the ACE inhibitors on plasma aldosterone. When dietary potassium intake is regulated and sources of altered potassium excretion are identified, hyperkalaemia is seldom a serious problem. Identification of sodium and water deficits allows correction before the drugs are started, and the frequency of hypotension and hyperkalaemia caused by the drugs is quite low if these factors are properly managed. An unexpected finding emerging in recent years is the dry cough associated with ACE inhibitor therapy. Its mechanism is not definitely known. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may control this symptom in some patients. The frequent observation of proteinuria in patients taking ACE inhibitors has gained notice and sometimes caused undue alarm. It is difficult to separate disease effects in diabetes and hypertension from true drug effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Antihypertensive Treatment in Postmenopausal Women: Results from a Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study Comparing an ACE Inhibitor (Moexipril) with a Diuretic (Hydrochlorothiazide)

“…The safety results were consistent with those previously seen in moexipril and other ACE inhibitor studies in other population groups [19][20][21][22]. No new safety risks were identified.…”

Comparison of the AT1-receptor blocker, candesartan cilexetil, and the ACE inhibitor, lisinopril, in fixed combination with low dose hydrochlorothiazide in hypertensive patients

“…The small reductions in haematological indices may reflect blockade of a stimulant effect of the renin-angiotensin system on erythropoetin production. 25 Such effects have previously been reported with ACE inhibitors 25,26 and angiotensin II antagonists. [27][28][29] The increase in serum uric acid seen in both treatment groups probably reflects the known influence of thiazide diuretics.…”

Reversible Alopecia medicamentosa durch ACE-Hemmer

“…Die Symptome beginnen in der Regel etwa 3-5 Wochen nach Therapiebeginn und sind reversibel nach Dosisreduktion oder Beendigung der Behandlung [22,28,36]. Über eine Alopezie als eine seltene unerwünschte Medikamentenwirkung bei erwachsenen Patienten wurde bisher in der Literatur nur wenige Male berichtet [1,12,19,22,25,33,38], ihr Vorkommen sollte weit weniger als 1% aller Nebenwirkungen ausmachen.…”