Radioisotopic Evaluation of the Effect of Short Term Perindopril Therapy on Left Ventricular Function in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

Authors: Arif Engin DEMİRÇALI, Tarık BAŞOĞLU, Murathan ŞAHİN, İrem BERNAY, Ender ÖRNEK, 0lcay SAĞKAN

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the short term effect of perindopril which is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor on left ventricular function in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). A total of 15 patients with CHF (New York Heart Association class 2-3) (range: 36-68 yrs; mean age: 52.3±4.2 yrs) were examined using radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) and echocardiography (EC). After a baseline RNV and EC were performed, the patients were treated with 6 mg (3x2 mg) perindopril orally per day. EC and RNV were repeated eight to twelve weeks after the onset of the therapy. The calculated mean left ventricular diastolic and systolic function values on RNV before and after treatment were: Ejection fraction (%) 35.14 ± 1.54 to 36.5 ± 1.86, Peak filling rate (EDV/sec) 1.44 ± 0.16 to 1.84 ± 0.18, Time to peak filling (msec) 330 ± 7.1 to 280 ± 18, Peak emptying rate (ESV/sec) 1.707 ± 0.071 to 1.77 ± 0.13, Time to peak emptying (msec) 280 ± 7 to 260 ± 5. The ejection fraction values measured on EC were: 31.57 ± 2.21 : to 32.45 ± 2.64 %. There was not a significant difference between the pre-and post-treatment ejection fraction values with both methods (p>0.05). The peak filling and emptying parameters measured on RNV before and after treatment were also not significantly different (P>0.05). ln conclusion, both RNV and EC demonstrated that there was no improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction after a short term perindopril treatment. The systolic and diastolic parameters calculated by RNV confirmed the absence of left ventricular function improvement.

Keywords: Perindopril, congestive heart failure, radionuclide ventriculography.