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| Slide Lecture Programs |
| 2000 Core Curriculum |
| The endothelium: New insights into the origins and treatment of CAD |
August 31, 2000
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| IV: |
Hypertension: A new treatment approach
- This study by Richer and colleagues supports the hypothesis that ACE inhibition produces differing mechanisms of short- and long-term blood pressure control.53
- Two groups of young, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were given the ACE inhibitor quinapril (10mg/kg/day) or distilled water from age 5 weeks to 20 weeks. Observations continued 7 weeks after treatment was stopped.
- As seen on the left panel on the slide, immediate improvements in hemodynamic parameters, such as mean arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance, were seen in the SHRs treated with quinapril. These improvements continued beyond the treatment phase.
- The SHRs treated with quinapril had a delayed but significant reduction in vascular hypertrophy. It was evident by such reduced aortic medial thickness, as shown in the right panel on the slide. The SHRs also had a reduced wall-to-lumen ratio.
- The study concluded that the early systemic and regional hemodynamic effects of quinapril initiate its antihypertensive action. But delayed prolonged vascular morphologic changes that the drug induces are probably responsible for quinapril's residual blood pressure lowering effects after treatment is ended.
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