[The use of capoten in the treatment of chronic cor pulmonale in elderly patients]. / Ispol'zovanie kapotena v lechenii khronicheskogo legochnaia serdtsa u bol'nykh starshego vozrasta.

Forty patients of elderly and senile ages with chronic obstructive bronchitis, complicated with degrees II-III respiratory insufficiency, and chronic cor pulmonale with stage IIA circulatory failure have been examined. The examination revealed impairment of the external respiration and tissue oxygen exchange, changes in the cardio- and hemodynamics the most typical of which was a significant rise of the diastolic volume of the left ventricle, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and an increase of the extracellular volume of fluid. To explore the ways to correct these changes, nine patients were given a single dose of capoten, an inhibitor of the converting enzyme angiotensin (12.5 mg orally), after which a 20-day course was administered (12.5 mg three times daily). The agent proved to be highly effective, which suggested the expediency of its use in the complex management of old-age patients with decompensated cor pulmonale.

[Renin activity in the blood plasma of healthy persons and in hypertension patients depending on age]. / Aktivnost' renina v plazme krovi u zdorovykh liudei i bol'nykh gipertonicheskoi bolezn'iu v zavisimosti ot vozrasta.

Renin activity in blood plasma was studied by the radioimmune method in healthy persons and in hypertensive disease patients of various ages. It was found that this index diminishes with age in physiological ageing. The increase in the sensitivity of the ageing body to humoral agents, angiotensin among others, evidently compensates for the qualitative deficiency of the hormone. The results obtained provide evidence that the renal pressor mechanism is involved in the pathogenesis of late hypertensive disease at an earlier stage, which is probably due to the age preconditions, particularly the diminished intensity of intrarenal circulation, relative sympathicotonia at elderly and old age, and features of the electrolyte metabolism. The early activation of the renin--angiotensin system in the late stages of hypertensive disease should determine specified pathogenetic treatment of this disease in old age.