ACE inhibitor can substitute ARB in treatment of heart failure

According to a new study, ACE inhibitor ramipril (Altace) proved to be as effective as its more expensive competitor ARB telmisartan (Micardis).

Both drugs are used in treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure, but have different ways of acting.

ACE inhibitor lower the production of angiotensin II, therefore relaxing arterial muscles while at the same time enlarging the arteries, allowing the heart to pump blood more easily, and increasing blood flow due to more blood being pumped into and through larger passageways.

Generally, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) such as telmisartan bind to the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors with high affinity, causing inhibition of the action of angiotensin II on vascular smooth muscle, ultimately leading to a reduction in arterial blood pressure.

The study is based on a number of experiments conducted among people with coronary artery disease or diabetes that resulted in no major differences between those treated with different drugs.

The finding is very valuable in the sense that it provides a substitute for an ACE inhibitor in a patient who cannot tolerate it and reduces the cost of medical care.