Enalapril: antiproteinuric effect in children with nephrotic syndrome

Abstract

Aim: The present study was designed to establish the antiproteinuric effect of ACE-I (enalapril).

Patients and methods: Six children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) and one patient affected by Alport syndrome and nephrotic-range proteinuria received enalapril (mean dose 0.3 mg/kg/day) during a mean period of 2 years. Before initiation of therapy, blood pressure was normal in all but one patient, the latter showed normal values with enalapril treatment.

Results: Five patients showed a significant increase of albumin levels after the treatment. Creatinine clearance remained stable during the study in all but one patient affected by Alport syndrome.

Conclusion: In five patients (71.4%) enalapril therapy resulted in an important reduction ofproteinuria, in one patient the treatment was stopped after one year for relapse. In patient with Alport syndrome the fall in creatinine clearance, may simply reflect the natural course of the disease.