RESUMO
A longitudinal study for six months was conducted to demonstrate the influence of enalapril therapy on microalbuminuria in a group of patients with IDDM without arterial hypertension. An evaluation was also considered of its possible activity on other biochemical parameters, particularly plasma lipid levels. Thirty-four patients with IDDM were selected, with a mean age of 26.1 +/- 7.2 years and a mean clinical course of 11.8 +/- 5.6 years. Arterial blood pressure (ABP) was confirmed lower than 140/85 mmHg in all cases. Patients were administered 5 mg/day of enalapril and if a decrease in microalbuminuria higher than 25% was not achieved at the end of the first month of therapy, the dose was doubled (10 mg/day). No significant differences were found in ABP and in HbA1c throughout the study period. Albumin excretion in the initial period was 125.1 +/- 79.28 mg/24 h, at one month in the follow-up 47.6 +/- 44.1 mg/24 h, at three months 23.8 +/- 18.1 mg/24 h, and at the end of the 6th month 15.33 +/- 6.9 mg/24 h, all differences being significant. Renal function parameters and Na+ and K+ measurements remained unchanged for the follow-up period. No significant changes were detected for lipid and lipoprotein values for the length of the study. We conclude that therapy with enalapril in insulin-dependent diabetic patients without hypertension has an important effect on microalbuminuria during the first month of therapy; a stabilization in the normal range was reached in the third and sixth months of follow-up. No changes in arterial blood pressure nor in renal function were observed. Plasma lipid values were in the normal range throughout the study. Therefore, treatment for microalbuminuria with the ACEI assayed was efficient, in absence of arterial hypertension and irrespective of the metabolic control obtained. Future long-term studies are needed to evaluate the possible delay in the emergence of renal insufficiency.
