Management of Dilated Cardiomyopathy with Enalapril and Losartan

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (Enalapril) and angiotensin II receptor antagonist (Losartas) along with a diuretic and supplemental therapy in dogs with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. A total of 30 dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy were randomly allotted to treatment groups i.e., group I and II (15 dogs in each group). The echocardiographic left ventricle dimensions of the dilated cardiomyopathy affected dogs of group I and II showed significantly (P<0.01) increased LVEDd and LVEDs when compared with the mean values of healthy dogs. The other dimensions viz., LVPWd, LVPWs, IVSd and IVSs noted on day 0 among the different group of affected dogs were significantly low (P<0.05). There was significant increase in EPSS value (<0.01). With respect to Ejection Fraction and Fractional Shortening, the values on day 0 were significantly low (P<0.01). Group I was treated with Enalapril and group II with Losartan along with common diuretic torsemide in both the groups. All the dogs in group I showed recovery where as two dogs died in group II during the treatment period. The present findings reveal that dogs suffering with dilated cardiomyopathy can be treated with a combination of traditional ACEi like enalapril, superior diuretic like torsemide and supplemental neutraceuticle like L-carnitine, for earlier clinical recovery with no adverse drug reactions.