Chronic cough caused by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.

Physicians should suspect ACE inhibitors as the cause of cough in patients whose symptom begins soon after the institution of therapy with this class of drugs. This is particularly important in patients without a personal or family history of atopy, with normal physical findings, chest radiographs, and lung function tests. Rather than subjecting the patient to an extensive workup, substitution of a different antihypertensive agent is an inexpensive way to show whether the ACE inhibitor is the cause of the chronic cough.