Does the choice between ACE-inhibitors and AT1 antagonists affect serum erythropoietin levels in class III and IV CHF patients?
The study hypothesizes that AT1 antagonists may be preferable to ACE-inhibitors for achieving desirable erythropoietin increases in severe heart failure.
We suggest that a desirable Epo increase in class III and IV CHF patients could be achieved by either recombinant human Epo administration or, possibly, by appropriate selection of the concomitant medical therapy. A large prospective study shall investigate the possible advantage of AT(1) antagonists over ACE-inhibitors with regard to Epo effect.
Chatterjee et al. (2000) studied this question.