Valsartan in acute myocardial infarction trial VALIANT

Effects after myocardial infarction In patients with evidence of LV dysfunction early after myocardial infarction, the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT) (48) demonstrated that valsartan had a benefit that was not inferior to that of ACE inhibitors without an advantage in terms of tolerability. However, the addition of an angiotensin II receptor blocker to an ACE inhibitor did not improve the outcomes and resulted in more side effects. 

McMurray J, Solomon S, Pieper K, Reed S, Rouleau J, Velazquez E, White H, Howlett J, Swedberg K, Maggioni A, Kober L, Van de Werf F, Califf R, Pfeffer M (2006) The effect of valsartan, captopril, or both on atherosclerotic events after acute myocardial infarction an analysis of the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT). J Am Coll Cardiol 47 726-733... 

The Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT) compared the effects of valsartan, captopril, and the combination of the two agents in post-MI patients with symptomatic heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, or both. The primary end point of total mortality occurred in 19.3% of patients receiving valsartan and captopril, 19.5% of captopril-treated patients, and 19.9% of the valsartan-treated group. Thus, in this high-risk post-MI population, valsartan was as effective as captopril in reducing the risk of death, but combination therapy only increased the risk of adverse effects and did not improve survival compared with monotherapy with either agent. 

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