Okay- here's the best explanation that I can give you without writing a book..
The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is how the kidneys manipulate peripheral resistance in the vascular system to raise blood pressure. When the kidneys perceive that they are underperfused, they release renin which triggers the RAAS. RAAS does a lot of things including increasing the resistance in arterioles aka peripheral vascular resistance (PVR).
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors block a step in the activation of the RAAS system. It prevents the cascade of things that happen when RAAS is activated including prevention of the action of Angiotensin II on the arterioles.
So, who would benefit from an ACE inhibitor (ACEI)? Technically, anyone with high blood pressure. The studies show that patients with hypertension do benefit from ACEI therapy but the response is very individualized. In clinical practice, the population that seems to benefit from ACEI therapy are diabetes, patients with renal artery stenosis and patients for whom other antihypertensives have not been as effective.
The important thing to keep in mind is that the mechanism of ACEI is slow and the clinical response is dependent upon the underlying pathology that is causing the hypertension.
In contrast, the mechanism of angina has two components- decreased flow through the coronary artery or increased oxygen demand by the myocardium (MV02). Angina is an ACUTE not chronic event. The drugs that are given for angina are drugs with rapid onset. This is why the drug of choice for angina was nitroglycerin. The nitrates in the NTG tablets have an immediate vasodilatory effect upon the vascular system INCLUDING the coronary arteries. This increases the perfursion in the coronary artery which increases available oxygen in transported to the myocardium.
ACEI therapy will reduce overall incidence of anginal attacks by reducing MV02. How? Over time, as PVR decreases the workload on the ventricles is decreased due to the positive effects on both afterload and preload. Ideally, with time this will reduce ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac workload which will reduce MV02. The problem is that the affects of ACEI therapy are gradual and the positive effects on MV02 are not seen immediately.
In the acute anginal event, time is of the essence so you want to
immediately increase cardiac perfusion dramatically which can only occur through immediate dilation of the coronary aterry either through medications such as NTG which has an immediate effect or through mechanical means such as PTCA.
Hopefully you'll get this in time to help complete whatever homework you're working on.
