NCIt definition : The active metabolite of cilazapril, a pyridazine angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
inhibitor with antihypertensive activity. As a prodrug, cilazapril is rapidly metabolized
in the liver to cilazaprilat; cilazaprilat competitively binds to and inhibits ACE,
thereby blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. This prevents
the potent vasoconstrictive actions of angiotensin II, resulting in vasodilation.
Cilazaprilat also decreases angiotensin II-induced aldosterone secretion by the adrenal
cortex, which leads to an increase in sodium excretion and subsequently increases
water outflow.;