Importance of trough : peak ratios in treatment of blood pressure in post-myocardial infarction and heart failure settings.

Hypertension increases the risk of reinfarction and sudden death in the post-myocardial infarction patient, and the same also applies to the co-existing left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Thus the therapeutic aim in such patients are: (1) appropriate blood pressure (BP) control; (2) regression of LVH; and (3) secondary prevention to reduce long-term mortality. All of these goals can potentially be met by use of ACE inhibitors. However, achieving quality BP control demands appropriate selection of doses and dosage regimens. Trough : peak ratios are useful in determining duration of action and may thus offer a rational approach to aid the selection drug doses and dosage regimens.