Effects of enalapril on left ventricular function and exercise performance after a first acute myocardial infarction

Aims: To study the effects of early use of enalapril on left ventricular function and exercise capacity after a first acute myocardial infarction, 356 patients without overt signs of congestive heart failure were randomly allocated to receive placebo or enalapril between days 7 and 14 after a first myocardial infarction. The study was conducted double-blind in 40 hospitals throughout Spain. Methods and results: At baseline and after 26 weeks of follow-up exercise stress tests, Doppler-echocardiograms and isotopic ventriculography were performed in study participants. At the end of follow-up, patients in the enalapril group had lower end-systolic volume compared to those in the placebo group (55 vs. 62 ml; P=0.05). No difference in exercise capacity was evident between both groups. Conclusion: The present study shows that enalapril therapy administered between 7 and 14 days after a first acute myocardial infarction decreases end-systolic volume and may inhibit the remodeling process of the left ventricle.