What is an ACE-inhibitor?
by The DiagnosisHeart.com Physician Team Posted: June 22, 2005 Summary: ACE stands for Angiotensin Converting Enzyme. It is an enzyme that is found in our body and as the name implies, plays a role in converting a hormone called Angiotensin I into its active form, Angiotensin II. This active form of angiotensin constricts (shrinks) the blood vessels, increasing blood pressure. ACE inhibitors, again as the name implies, inhibit ACE and thus prevent the activation of angiotensin and in turn development of high blood pressure. Another important characteristic of ACE is to release aldosterone – a substance that causes the kidneys to retain sodium and fluid, causing tissue swelling which starts in the most dependent portions of the body, the feet. This is especially evident in patients with heart failure. ACE Inhibitors prevent this and lengthen the time for deterioration of such patients. Also the dilating effects of ACE inhibitors on blood vessels has been shown to be useful in treating h
ACE inhibitors are very commonly used medications for varying cardiovascular disorders. It’s a great medication for lowering blood pressure, it’s used in patients with heart failure, it’s used in patients with diabetes and kidney disease. And the common theme here is that there’s a new hormone in the body called angiotensin II which is associated with various forms of vascular disease, progression and development, and because of that, if you use ACE inhibitors to modulate the angiotensin II which is a neurohormone which causes all these disorders, you can have varying benefits like lowering blood pressure and decreasing the risk of kidney disease or stroke.
ACE-inhibitors end in pril. For example: Enalapril (Enacard, Vasotec), Benazepril (Lotensin, Fortekor), Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril). ACE inhibitors dilate blood vessels and moderate excess hormone activity that occurs with heart failure, resulting in less resistance in the blood vessels against which the heart must pump. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduce resistance in the blood vessels to reduce work load of the heart.
