[Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with preserved left ventricular function: from EUROPA to PREAMI].

The trials with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have followed a particular trend: in the first studies treatment was provided to severely ill patients several time (months or year) after the acute event. Thereafter, in few studies ACE-inhibitors were provided within 2 weeks of the event to patients with left ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In other megatrials ACE-inhibitors were started in unselected patients 24 hours after AMI.