Potential effects of bradykinin on myocardial capillary growth after angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition

Antihypertensive drugs interfering with the renin-angiotensin system, such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are increasingly discussed with respect to their effects beyond blood pressure control, for instance on vascular and cardiac structure and function. ACE inhibitors which not only prevent the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II but also the degradation of bradykinin (BK), may exert their actions in part via paracrine-autocrine mechanisms including the kallikrein-kinin system. In a short review we will describe the effects of BK on endothelial function, on ischaemic hearts and cardiac hypertrophy and discuss a possible involvement of BK in myocardial capillary growth after ACE inhibition.