Effect of antihypertensive drugs on glomerular hyperfiltration and renal haemodynamics

Summary

Glomerular hyperfiltration and hypertension may contribute to the progression of chronic renal insufficiency regardless of the underlying disease. Protein restriction and antihypertensive treatment are used to slow the decline in renal function. However, little is known about the interaction of protein loading and antihypertensive treatment on glomerular haemodynamics in humans. This paper compares the renal haemodynamic effects ofβ-adrenoceptor blockers with those of the calcium channel antagonist nifedipine and the ACE inhibitor captopril on resting glomerular filtration and during glomerular hyperfiltration. In two separate studies the effects of nifedipine, captopril, metoprolol, and celiprolol on renal haemodynamics have been investigated. In two groups of healthy volunteers (n =13) inulin and PAH clearances were measured, first under fasting conditions and afterwards during aminoacid infusion.

In fasting subjects nifedipine and metoprolol induced glomerular hyperfiltration, while celiprolol and captopril did not significantly affect GFR. Without premedication, and also after nifedipine, metoprolol and celiprolol, the aminoacid infusion significantly increased the GFR. After premedication with captopril, however, aminoacid-induced hyperfiltration was prevented. In fasting subjects captopril, celiprolol and metoprolol elevated PAH clearance. With our without premedication aminoacid infusion increased renal plasma flow compared to baseline on the control day.

We conclude that in healthy subjects, acute administration of antihypertensive drugs results in different renal haemodynamic responses. In contrast to captopril and celiprolol, nifedipine and metoprolol induce glomerular hyperfiltration like protein loading. Thus, they may counteract the renal haemodynamic effects of protein restriction. Celiprolol behaves similarly to captopril, since it increases renal perfusion without inducing glomerular hyperfiltration, a pattern which might reflect lower glomerular pressure. Only captopril, however, was able to prevent glomerular hyperfiltration induced by aminoacids.

If these observations are confirmed during chronic treatment of patients with impaired renal function, they may suggest that certain antihypertensive drugs reverse, while others seem more likely to support the effect of protein restriction on renal haemodynamics and on the progression of renal disease.