EFFECTS OF NITRENDIPINE AND CILAZAPRIL ON RENAL HEMODYNAMICS AND ALBUMINURIA IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE

In 11 hypertensive patients with chronic renal failure we studied the short-term effects of the calcium antagonist nitrendipine, the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor cilazapril, and the combination of both drugs on blood pressure, renal hemodynamics, and proteinuria in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled way. After one week of treatment, blood pressure at 2-5 h after drug administration amounted to 159 ± 5/101 ± 3 mm Hg (means ± SEM) during placebo. Nitrendipine, cilazapril, and the combination lowered mean arterial pressure by 1.4 ± 1.6 (NS), 6.0 ± 1.7 (p < 0.10), and 10.3 ± 2.1% (p < 0.01), respectively. Glomerular filtration rate did not change. As compared to placebo, renal blood flow increased and renal vascular resistance decreased significantly during the combination. Filtration fraction amounted to 22.7 ± 1.2% during placebo and was 22.0 ± 1.4 (NS), 20.4 ± 1.2 (p < 0.01), and 20.5 ± 1.4% (p < 0.05) during nitrendipine, cilazapril, and the combination, respectively. During nitrendipine, albuminuria was slightly higher than during placebo: 0.86 ± 0.39 vs. 0.58 ± 0.25 mg/min (NS). During cilazapril alone and during the combination of both drugs, albuminuria was lower as compared to nitrendipine: 0.38 ± 0.14 mg/min (p < 0.01) and 0.44 ± 0.18 mg/min (p < 0.01), respectively. The data suggest that the combination of nitrendipine and cilazapril is an effective treatment in renal hypertension. In addition, cilazapril alone as well as the combination with nitrendipine reduced albuminuria, possibly by decreasing filtration fraction and/or reduction of blood pressure. © 1990 Raven Press, Ltd., New York.