Micro-albuminuria and the organ-damage concept in antihypertensive therapy for patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

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Abstract
OBJECT OF TREATMENT: Antihypertensive treatment in hypertensive patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is intended to prevent long-term complications, particularly diabetic nephropathy. DIABETIC HYPERTENSIVES WITH ABNORMAL ALBUMINURIA: Antihypertensive therapy, particularly with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, typically produces a permanent reduction in the decline of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in diabetic patients with abnormal albuminuria. The rate of decline in the GFR during antihypertensive treatment is a well accepted end-point in diabetic renal disease. DIABETIC HYPERTENSIVES WITHOUT ABNORMAL ALBUMINURIA: In insulin-dependent diabetic patients with essential hypertension but with normal urinary albumin excretion there is no reduction in the GFR. Longitudinal studies have shown a fall in the GFR only in the presence of significantly increased urinary albumin excretion. ABNORMAL ALBUMINURIA AS A MARKER OF INCIPIENT NEPHROPATHY: Micro-albuminuria and proteinuria may be pathogenetic factors in the development of nephropathy, leading eventually to end-stage renal failure in diabetic patients. Measurements of micro-albuminuria and proteinuria, in addition to blood pressure recordings, might therefore be used as indications for initiating antihypertensive treatment. NEED TO MONITOR PATIENTS FOR ABNORMAL ALBUMINURIA: Transglomerular macromolecular traffic may produce mesangial damage, with subsequent glomerulopathy and diabetic nephropathy. Thus, close monitoring for micro-albuminuria and proteinuria is desirable in the management of diabetic hypertensive patients.

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