Angiotensin II receptor antagonism in ovine heart failure: acute hemodynamic, hormonal, and renal effects

The hemodynamic, hormonal, and renal effects of angiotensin II-type 1 receptor antagonism (AT1A) have not been documented previously in heart failure (HF) or compared with angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibition (ACEI). Accordingly, we investigated the acute (2-h) response to losartan (1 and 10 mg/kg iv) or vehicle (N saline) followed by captopril (12.5 mg) on separate days in an ovine model of HF induced by 7 days of rapid ventricular pacing. Losartan induced a significant rise in plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma angiotensin II levels (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001, respectively), in association with a fall in the plasma aldosterone-to-PRA ratio (P less than 0.001) and plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (P less than 0.05). Mean arterial and left atrial pressure both fell significantly after losartan (P less than 0.001), whereas the rise in cardiac output was not sustained. The response to captopril was similar except for plasma angiotensin II, which declined (P less than 0.001). Glomerular filtration and urine sodium excretion were maintained despite a fall in renal perfusion pressure. In conclusion, the vasodilatation and renal effects of AT1A were similar to ACEI. Thus AT1A may be a useful therapeutic alternative to ACEI in HF.