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ACE inhibition - a 25 year success story in therapeutics: from hypertension and heart failure to a preventive approach in high risk patients Professor Norman Sharpe, University of Auckland, New Zealand Coronary heart disease death rates have been declining in most Western countries during the past 2-3 decades but are increasing in many other countries. The reasons for the decline in Western countries relate to reduced disease incidence as a result of population primary prevention and improved disease management and secondary prevention due to coronary intervention and drug treatment. In terms of coronary disease progression from the earliest stage of risk factors to end stage heart disease there are opportunities for effective intervention at every stage. ACE inhibitors have various different mechanisms of cardiac and vascular protection and have been shown effective in hypertension, chronic heart failure, postMI LV dysfunction and heart failure and most recently in high risk patients with atherosclerosis and particularly in diabetics. The numerous cardiovascular benefits of ACE inhibition are established on an extensive evidence base allowing clear recommendations for such treatment in a wide range of patients with cardiovascular disease. In clinical practice, the same patient selection criteria and treatment regimens should be observed as in the clinical trials to maximize patient benefits and avoid undue harms. It should not be assumed that all drugs within a class are interchangeable. For most cardiovascular indications a class effect with ACE inhibition is likely but for atherosclerosis and high risk patients the considerable benefits of treatment have been best exemplified with ramipril (HOPE trial). The challenge in translating clinical trial evidence into practice is to implement modern evidence-based guidelines as widely and accurately as possible to ensure that the potential for improved patient outcomes from such therapy as ACE inhibition is accessible and fully realized.