EFFECTS OF CAPTOPRIL AND HYDRALAZINE ON PROGRESSION OF ADRIAMYCIN NEPHROPATHY IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

The effects of captopril and hydralazine on morphologic changes and cl inical course of adriamycin nephropathy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were examined. The rats were followed for 18 weeks after ad riamycin injections. At week 1 they were randomly assigned to receive no antihypertensive treatment, captopril 60 mg/kg per day or hydralazi ne 6 mg/kg per day. A control group of SHR not treated with adriamycin was also included in the study. Both antihypertensive agents normaliz ed systemic blood pressure, but: failed to prevent proteinuria, mesang ial expansion and renal failure progression. At the end of the study a ll adriamycin-treated groups had the same degree of renal failure irre spective of whether blood pressure was well controlled with captopril or hydralazine or whether hypertension persisted. Nevertheless, antihy pertensive therapy slowed down renal function deterioration in the ear ly stage of adriamycin nephropathy. Treatment with captopril also redu ced the development of glomerular sclerosis.