iECA: physiology behind veterinary pharmacology

Abstract

The increase in dogs' life expectancy has been related to the identification of cardiac affections that present dyspnoea, cyanosis, dry cough, and syncope. A fundamental strategy for the treatment of heart disease is pressure control by blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAS) system with inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Those agents that are specific antagonists of angiotensin II have allowed veterinary medicine to increase since 1970 and 1980. ACE inhibitors are generally well tolerated and they improve hemodynamics and clinical sign by controlling vasoconstriction, caused by alpha-adrenergic receptors stimuli. These vasodilator drugs act to prevent the impairment of myocardial function, helping in the chronic condition of heart failure (HF) which, as a result of the reduction in cardiac output, could compromise pre- and after-load due to the increase in blood volume. Their usefulness in the treatment of dogs with chronic heart failure, especially in those with chronic valvular disease.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/devopinterscie-022