ANTIPROTEINURIA ACTION OF ANGIOTENSIN-CON VERTING ENZYME-INHIBITORS IN CHRONIC GLOMERULONEPHRITIS AND DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

Antiproteinuria effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibit ors was studied in 23 patients with chronic nephritis (CN) and 32 pati ents with diabetic nephropathy (DN). CN patients received capoten, DN patients were given enalapril. The drugs were also examined for the ac tion on systemic arterial pressure, renal function and intrarenal hemo dynamics. Significantly decreased urinary excretion of protein occurre d in DN patients on the treatment month 1, in CN subjects on month 3. In both groups ACE-inhibitors produced marked hypotensive effect, did not affect renal function, noticeably improved intraglomerular hemodyn amics. Hypotensive and antiproteinuria activity of the drugs were unre lated. The mechanism of antiproteinuria action or ACE-inhibitors works via normalization of intrarenal hemodynamics. Systemic arterial hyper tension seems to be an additional factor aggravating disturbances of i ntrarenal circulation and provoking proteinuria.