Effects of the ACE inhibitor quinapril on echocardiographic variables in horses with mitral valve insufficiency.

This study investigated the impact of the ACE inhibitor quinapril on horses with mitral valve insufficiency. Findings indicate that using quinapril can significantly improve stroke volume and cardiac output while reducing regurgitation velocity in afflicted horses, however, it does not change other key cardiac dimensions or measures.

Research Methodology

• The study involved twenty horses diagnosed with mitral valve insufficiency, without indications of congestive heart failure, and five horses without any signs of heart disease.
• All study subjects underwent an echocardiographic evaluation and heart catheterization prior to and after treatment. The echocardiography made use of B-mode, M-mode, as well as conventional and colour Doppler techniques.
• The treatment involved a daily oral dose of Accupro 20, comprising the active ingredient Quinapril, administered at a rate of 120 mg per horse for a period of 8 weeks.

Key Findings

• The 8-week follow-up for the horses suffering from mitral valve insufficiency exhibited a statistically significant elevation in stroke volume and cardiac output, along with a reduction in regurgitation velocity time integral (VTI).
• The velocity of regurgitated blood didn’t change as a result of the treatment.
• Though the severity of mitral valve insufficiencies showed a moderate improvement in five horses, with their conditions progressing from moderate to mild after treatment, there were no changes noted in terms of cardiac dimension or the shortening fraction.
• Owners of the horses noted a minor improvement in their performance.
• For the horses that were initially healthy, with no clinical signs of heart disease, the examination results remained unchanged before and after the treatment.

Conclusion

• This study demonstrates that an ACE inhibitor, specifically Quinapril, can have a positive effect on horses suffering from mitral valve insufficiency, by improving the stroke volume and cardiac output and reducing regurgitation velocity. However, it does not seem to cause significant changes in other crucial cardiac parameters or dimensions.