Zdravniški Vestnik (Mar 2002)
ANGIOTENSIN II RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS AND PROTEINURIA
Abstract
Background. In numerous clinical studies that tried to identify risk factors for progressive renal function loss, the severity of proteinuria correlated with the rate of renal function loss. In patients with chronic renal disease and hypertension the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are the drugs of choice. ACE inhibitors have been shown to reduce proteinuria and have renoprotective effect. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists produce effects very similar to those of ACE inhibitors. Some recent clinical trials suggest that combination of ACE inhibitor with angiotensin II receptor antagonist may be more effective in reducing proteinuria than ACE inhibitor given alone.Case report. The effect of combination therapy on reducing proteinuria in a patient with Henoch-Schönlein purpura is described in this article.Conclusions. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists have the same effect on proteinuria and are as effective as ACE inhibitors. The possibility of additive effects of the two types of compounds on proteinuria has been tested yet only in small number of patients. Combination therapy may have a significant additive effect on reducing proteinuria.
