effects of captopril on pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease

ABSTRACT

We studied the effect of captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitor, on hemodynamics and pulmonary arterial pressure of six chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] patients with pulmonary hypertension [Pulmonary arterial pressure > 20mmHg]. Pertinent data were measured before and after taking captopril, 50mg daily in the first week, followed by I50mg daily for the next three weeks. After treatment with captopril no significant changes were noticed in pulmonary arterial pressure [PAP], pulmonary arterial wedge pressure [PAWP], right atrial pressure [RAP] or right ventricular end diastolic pressure [RVEDP], although arterial oxygen partial pressure [PaO[2]] and vital capacity [VC] showed a significant increase [p < 0.02]. We conclude that hypoxic pulmonary hypertension is potentially resistant to therapy with captopril