Effects of lisinopril in patients with heart failure and chronic atrial fibrillation

Although atrial fibrillation is common in patients with heart failure, patients with atrial fibrillation are often excluded from congestive heart failure trials or are not analyzed separately. Consequently, while the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with sinus rhythm is well established, the effect on patients with atrial fibrillation is unknown. The authors hypothesized that these agents might be particularly effective in this patient category, given their antiadrenergic properties and the importance of adequate rate control. Therefore, the effects of lisinopril 10 mg once daily were evaluated in 30 patients with congestive heart failure and chronic atrial fibrillation (mean age, 68 +/- 6 years) in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. All patients were in New York Heart Association class II or III and were stable on conventional therapy (digoxin, diuretics, nitrates). After 6 weeks, mean peak oxygen consumption increased from 14.7 +/- 3.4 to 15.9 +/- 2.9 mL/min/kg in the lisinopril group (P = .034). Plasma norepinephrine levels during exercise and at peak exercise tended to be lower when the patients were taking lisinopril (10.8 +/- 4.2 to 8.9 +/- 4.4 nmol/L and 16.3 +/- 9.2 to 14.3 +/- 7.7 nmol/L, P < .1). Heart rate during exercise and ambulatory monitoring was not significantly affected. Left ventricular fractional shortening tended to increase after lisinopril (23 +/- 7 to 27 +/- 9%, P = .073). Left atrial volume was unchanged, as were plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels. After subsequent electrical cardioversion, treatment was continued for 6 more weeks, allowing assessment of the effect of lisinopril on maintenance of sinus rhythm; maintenance of sinus rhythm was 71% in the lisinopril group and 36% in the placebo group (P = NS). This study shows that treatment with an angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitor improves peak oxygen consumption in patients with congestive heart failure and chronic atrial fibrillation. Attenuation of adrenergic drive during exercise may play a role in mediating this effect.