Hemodynamic and Hormonal Changes to Dual Renin Angiotensin System Inhibition in Experimental Hypertension

摘要

We examined the antihypertensive effects of valsartan, aliskiren or both drugs combined on circulating, cardiac and renal components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in congenic mRen2.Lewis hypertensive rats assigned to: vehicle (n=9), valsartan (via drinking water, 30 mg/kg/day; n=10), aliskiren (s.c. by osmotic mini-pumps, 50 mg/kg/day; n=10), or valsartan (30 mg/kg/day) combined with aliskiren (50 mg/kg/day; n=10). Arterial pressure and heart rate were measured by telemetry before and during two weeks of treatment; trunk blood, heart, urine and kidneys were collected for measures of RAS components. Arterial pressure and left ventricular weight/tibia length ratio were reduced by monotherapy of valsartan, aliskiren and further reduced by the combination therapy. Urinary protein excretion was reduced by valsartan and further reduced by the combination. The increases in plasma Ang II induced by valsartan were reversed by the treatment of aliskiren and partially suppressed by the combination. The decreases in plasma Ang-(1–7) induced by aliskiren recovered in the combination group. Kidney Ang-(1–12) was increased by the combination therapy while the increases in urinary creatinine mediated by valsartan were reversed by addition of aliskiren. The antihypertensive and antiproteinuric actions of the combined therapy were associated with marked worsening of renal parenchymal disease and increased peritubular fibrosis. The data show that despite improvements in the surrogate endpoints of blood pressure, ventricular mass and proteinuria, dual blockade of Ang II receptors and renin activity is accompanied by worsening of renal parenchymal disease reflecting a renal homeostatic stress response due to loss of tubuloglomerular feedback by Ang II.