Abstract: Aim and Metheds Theinfluence oforal enalapril on long-term quality of life was obser vedin 41 patients with dila ted cardiomyopathy and severecardiac dy sfunction (N YHA class Ⅲ-Ⅳ, left ventricularejective f raction<30 %), Theoral enalapril(10 ~ 40 mg/d ay)was give n for 24 months in addition to digitalis, diure tic drog and vasodilators (nitraes mainly).Results Follow-up rate was 95.1 %.Themaximal six-minute-walking distance was increased by 43.0 % (P<0.01)and exercisetolerance and t imewere increased by 73.1% and 61.4%, respectively (both P<0.001)and left ventriclesystolic parameters were improvedinvarying deg rees.Conclusion Thelife quality of patients with cardiomyopathy and severecardiac dysfunction could be greatly improved by administration of enalapril.

Key words: heart failure, cardiomy opathy, congestive, enalapril, quality of life