Reno-protective effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin II receptor blockers in type 2 diabetic nephropathy with elevated urine albumin to creatinine ratio

Background: Nephropathy is responsible for an End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in type 2 diabetics if uncontrolled. The monotherapy/combination of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) can retard the progression of urine albumin to creatinine ratio in diabetic nephropathy but, the data shows an inconsistency in the efficacy of these drugs. So, the present study was aimed at comparing the reno-protective effect of ACEi/ARBs in type 2 diabetics.Methods: A prospective, randomized study is conducted at Maharaja’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Nellimarla, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India with 100 patients, who are randomly categorised and equally distributed among the two groups and treated with Enalapril (ACEi) and Losartan (ARBs) for 6 months. 24-hour urine albumin to creatinine ratio and HbA1c are recorded before and after the treatment.Results: Enalapril and losartan showed a non-significant reduction in urine albumin to creatinine ratio from 196.2±17.5 to 185.9±15.2 (p=0.66) and 236.8±16.3 to 193.7±20.6 (p=0.11) respectively. A strict glycemic control has shown a reduction in HbA1c in both the groups.Conclusions: Present findings suggested that losartan is relatively more effective than enalapril in reducing the 24-hour urine albumin to creatinine ratio of diabetic nephropathy patients. Along with these drugs, regulation of blood glucose will assist in retarding the progression of nephropathy in type 2 diabetics.

Resistive index as a predictor of acute kidney injury caused by an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker in chronic kidney disease patients

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) may induce acutekidney injury (AKI).The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the resistive index (RI), which reflects renal artery resistance on renal duplex ultrasonography, as a predictor of AKI in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who are prescribed an ACE inhibitor or ARB. METHODS: We screened 105 CKD patients evaluated with renal duplex ultrasonography from 2008 to 2012. We excluded patients not treated with ACE inhibitor or ARB and diagnosed with renal artery stenosis. Finally, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 54 patients. AKI was defined as increased serum creatinine by >30% compared with baseline after starting ACE inhibitor or ARB treatment. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 60.5+/-13.0 years, serum creatinine level was 1.85+/-0.85 mg/dL and 22.2% of the patients had AKI after the use of an ACE inhibitor or ARB. The RI (P=0.006) and the percentages of patients with diabetes (P=0.008)and using diuretics (P=0.046) were higher in the AKI group.The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for the prediction of AKI was 0.736 (95% confidence interval=0.587-0.885, P=0.013),and RI> or =0.80 predicted AKI with 83.3% sensitivity and 61.9% specificity. In the multivariate analysis, RI> or =0.80 was an independent prognostic factor [Exp (B)=8.03, 95% confidence interval=1.14-56.74, P=0.037] for AKI. CONCLUSION: RI> or =0.80 on the renal duplex ultrasonography may be a helpful predictor for AKI in CKD patients who are prescribed an ACE inhibitor or ARB.

Aspirin Resistance in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease / 대한신장학회지

PURPOSE: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) frequently undergo thrombotic cardiovascular events, but the relationship between increased thrombotic events and aspirin resistance is poorly defined in these patients. METHODS: Between December 2008 and November 2009, 59 ESRD patients who had taken aspirin alone or aspirin plus clopidogrel daily for > or =7 consecutive days were included. Aspirin resistance was measured using the VerifyNow Aspirin Assay and compared with that of patients with normal kidney function. Moreover, thrombotic cardiovascular events were examined in the ESRD patients. RESULTS: Aspirin reaction unit was 475+/-58 U in the ESRD patients compared with 443+/-62 U in patients with normal kidney function. Nineteen (11%) of 170 patients were aspirin resistant based on the criterion of aspirin reaction unit (> or =550). The prevalence of aspirin resistance was significantly higher in the ESRD patients than in control patients (20% vs. 6%, p=0.006). ESRD and the use of angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors were associated with aspirin resistance in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. After a mean follow-up of 18.6+/-7.5 months, the incidence of thrombotic cardiovascular events in the ESRD patients who had aspirin resistance was significantly higher than in the ESRD patients without aspirin resistance (75% vs. 38%, p=0.023). CONCLUSION: The incidence of aspirin resistance was higher in patients with ESRD than in patients with normal kidney function. In addition, ESRD and the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were significant predictors for aspirin resistance. Aspirin resistance was associated with increased thrombotic cardiovascular events in ESRD patients.

The Effect of Withdrawal of Angiotensin II Blockers on Serum Creatinine and Potassium in Patients with Chronic Kidney Diseases / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Renin-ngiotensin system (RAS) blockers have been used to delay the progression of various renal diseases, but these medications cause hyperkalemia and the elevation of serum creatinine which impede the continuation of the medications. So far, there have been no data on the changes of serum creatinine or serum potassium after withdrawal of the RAS blockers. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of 60 patients who stopped the RAS blockers due to the elevation of serum creatinine or hyperkalemia between March 1995 and May 2005. They were assigned to either the elevated creatinine group or the hyperkalemia group according to the cause of the withdrawal. RESULTS: In the elevated creatinine group (n=37), the serum creatinine and GFR values at the point of withdrawal were 4.0+/-1.8 mg/dL and 18.2+/-10.4 mL/min/1.73m2, respectively. After discontinuation of the medications, a decrease in serum creatinine and an increase in GFR were noted at one month. After one month, however, serum creatinine increased continuously up to 6 months. Serum potassium levels decreased significantly after the drug withdrawal until the end of the study period. In the hyperkalemia group (n=23), the serum creatinine and serum potassium values at the point of withdrawal were 3.0+/-1.0 mg/dL and 6.4+/-0.4 mEq/L, respectively. A significant decrease in serum potassium was also noted after the withdrawal and this decrease lasted up to 6 months. But the transient decrease of serum creatinine, observed in the creatinine group, was not seen in this group. CONCLUSION: It was found that there was a beneficial effect on serum creatinine and GFR immediately after the withdrawal of RAS blockers only when they were stopped due to elevation of the serum creatinine concentration. The serum potassium levels were consistently decreased after the withdrawal of RAS blockers in both elevated creatinine and hyperkalemia groups.