Differential antiplatelet effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors: comparison of ex vivo platelet aggregation in cardiovascular patients with ramipril, captopril and enalapril.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors exert antithrombotic effects. Based on the assumption of differential effects of various ACE inhibitors on coagulation, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the coagulative activities of cardiovascular (CV) patients treated with either ramipril, captopril, and enalapril, and to compare these with patients treated with established antithrombotics such as aspirin (ASA) and clopidogrel or none of these medication.

Methods: Blood samples of 320 CV patients with coronary artery disease and/or arterial hypertension were analyzed by wholeblood aggregometry.