Abstract
The clinical safety of long-term (three to 26 months) administration of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, temocapril hydrochloride, was evaluated in 30 dogs with mitral regurgitation (MR). Dogs were classified into three groups by mode of administration (ACE alone or combined with cardiac medications) and clinical signs (NYHA functional classification): ACE-alone group (14 dogs), combination-III group (11 dogs) and combination-IV group (five dogs). During testing periods, clinical symptoms tended to progress gradually. RBC and WBC counts, ALT and ALP activities, as well as Na and Cl concentrations did not change significantly. K concentrations remained at normal levels in dogs of all groups, including in dogs medicated with temocapril in combination with spironolactone and furosemide. In some dogs of the ACE-alone and combination-III groups, BUN concentrations increased slightly, but plasma creatinine (CRE) concentrations maintained normal levels. BUN concentrations rose along with CRE concentrations in the combination-IV group. It was confirmed that dogs with MR could receive long-term administration of temocapril without problems.
