A major study suggests that ACE inhibitors are beneficial for those with stable heart disease.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are often used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease. In a study involving over 12,000 patients, the ACE inhibitor perindopril has been found to improve the outlook for those with stable heart disease.

The patients, who came from several European countries, were given either a daily dose of eight milligrams or perindopril or placebo and followed up for around four years. During this time, 488 of those on perindopril died of heart disease, compared with 603 of those on placebo. In the group of participants, 65 per cent had already had one heart attack, 61 per cent had been shown to have blocked arteries, and 55 per cent had had a procedure to unblock the arteries.

Perindopril works in combination with other heart drugs. In this study, 92 per cent were already on platelet inhibitors, 62 per cent were on beta blockers and 58 per cent were on lipid-lowering therapy.

Source

The Lancet early on-line 1st September 2003 (www.thelancet.com)