| ACE inhibitor | <pharmacology> A group of antihypertensive medications that work by inhibiting an enzyme (angiotensin-converting enzyme) that is important in the regulation of blood pressure. Studies have also indicated that it may help prevent or slow the progression of kidney disease in patients with diabetes. Examples include: captopril, ramipril, enalapril, losartan potassium, bepridil and lisinopril. (12 Mar 1998) |
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| aldose reductase inhibitor | <pharmacology> A class of drugs being studied as a way to prevent eye and nerve damage in people with diabetes. Aldose reductase is an enzyme that is normally present in the eye and in many other parts of the body. It helps change glucose (sugar) into a sugar alcohol called sorbitol. Too much sorbitol trapped in eye and nerve cells can damage these cells, leading to retinopathy and neuropathy. Drugs that prevent or slow (inhibit) the action of aldose reductase are being studied as a way to prevent or delay these complications of diabetes. (09 Oct 1997) |
| angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor | <pharmacology> A class of drugs used in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. They exert their haemodynamic effect mainly by inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system and produce a reduction of peripheral arterial resistance. They also modulate sympathetic nervous system activity and increase prostaglandin synthesis. They cause mainly vasodilation and mild natriuresis without affecting heart rate and contractility. (14 Aug 2000) |
| aromatase inhibitor | Drugs, such as aminoglutethimide, that inhibit aromatase, an enzyme used in the synthesis of oestrogens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-lactamase inhibitor | <pharmacology> Drugs such as clavulanic acid, which are used to inhibit bacterial beta-lactamases; often used with a penicillin or cephalosporin to overcome drug resistance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bowman-Birk inhibitor | A polypeptide that will inhibit both trypsin and chymotrypsin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| C1 esterase inhibitor | An a2-neuraminoglycoprotein that inhibits the enzymatic activity of C1 esterase, the activated first component of complement. A deficiency of this inhibitor results in a lack of inhibition of C1r and C1s leading to uncontrolled activation of the complement cascade and oedema. (05 Mar 2000) |
| carbonate dehydratase inhibitor | An agent, usually chemically related to the sulfonamides, that inhibits the activity of carbonate dehydratase, producing a general decrease in the formation of H2CO3 in the tissues. See: acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide. Synonym: carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| carbonic acid inhibitor | <pharmacology> A group of diuretic medications which act to inhibit the enzyme carbonic anhydrase to create a metabolic acidosis. Many of these medications are used in the treatment of glaucoma. (27 Sep 1997) |
| carbonic anhydrase inhibitor | <pharmacology> A group of medications (sulphonamide drugs) which inhibit the enzyme carbonic anhydrase. These medications are used in the treatment of glaucoma. Examples include acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide and methazolamide. (27 Sep 1997) |
| mammary derived growth inhibitor | Fatty acid binding protein that inhibits proliferation of mammary carcinoma cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
| mechanism-based inhibitor | A competitive inhibitor that is converted to an irreversible inhibitor at the active site of the enzyme. Synonym: mechanism-based inhibitor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| glucosidase inhibitor | Agents such as acarbose which reduce gastrointestinal absorption of carbohydrates. This group of drugs has been known popularly as "starch blockers". They lower plasma glucose levels and tend to cause weight loss. A limiting side effect is flatulence. (05 Mar 2000) |
| medication, ace-inhibitor | Agents that inhibit ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme), thereby acting as vasodilators (really as anti-vasoconstrictors), lightening the stress load on the heart. (12 Dec 1998) |
| residual inhibitor | A sound-generating device, worn in the ear, which inhibits or suppresses the sounds of tinnitus by masking, with a residual inhibitory effect when the device is turned off. (05 Mar 2000) |