Survival of rats with experimental chronic heart failure depending on pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic parameters of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-adrenoceptor blockers.

Lipophilic inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme increased 6-month survival and/or lifetime of rats with experimental chronic heart failure. These drugs had no effect on the mortality rate of animals with acute decompensation of the disease. beta-Adrenoceptor blockers without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity not only prolonged 6-month survival and lifetime, but also decreased the mortality rate of rats with decompensation of chronic heart failure.