Ramipril (brand name: Altace) is a kind of prodrug which is capable of inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) which converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II. It is metabolized to ramiprilat in the liver which exerts the effect of ACE inhibition. It is used for the treatment of hypertension, congestive heart failure and nephropathy. It can also be used for the prevention of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death. It can also be used for the treatment of kidney damage due to diabetes with protein-containing urine. Ramiprilat, is the competitive inhibitor of ATI for binding to ACE, further inhibiting the enzymatic proteolysis of ATI to ATII, alleviating the effect of ATII on blood pressure.
