delapril and Arteriosclerosis

The renin-angiotensin system is an important modulator of arterial blood pressure and inhibitors of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE-Is) and are currently used in the treatment of hypertension. The pleiotropic actions exerted by angiotensin II (AngII) on the functionality of the vessel wall may have pro-atherosclerotic outcomes; evidence for an anti-atherosclerotic effect of ACE-Is has been presented and an antioxidant effect has been attributed to thiol-containing ACE-Is, like Captopril. The present study has been undertaken to investigate the effect of Delapril, a lipophilic ACE-I, on the development of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits. While it did not correct hyperlipidemia, Delapril dose dependently inhibited the development of atherosclerosis, expressed as aortic area covered by lesions (23.3+/-4.1, 21.3+/-2.4 and 18.5+/-3.3% with Delapril at the daily dose of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, respectively, versus 38.2%+/-6.4 for control animals) and its effect was similar to that of Captopril (14.5+/-5.1% at the daily dose of 25 mg/kg). Furthermore, Delapril partially and dose dependently restored endothelium-dependent relaxation, which is impaired in vessels from hypercholesterolemic animals (51.80+/-12.18, 59.74+/-5.16, 69.13+/-8.70 maximal percent relaxation versus 48.26+/-3.05% for the untreated control and 67.67+/-6.72% for Captopril-treated animals). An antioxidant mechanism is unlikely to explain this data, since Delapril does not contain thiol groups. These observations suggest that Delapril may represent an effective pharmacological approach for the treatment of atherosclerosis during its early phases.

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Animals; Aorta, Abdominal; Aorta, Thoracic; Arteriosclerosis; Body Weight; Captopril; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, Dietary; Cholesterol, HDL; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Diet, Atherogenic; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endothelium, Vascular; Hypercholesterolemia; Indans; Male; Nitric Oxide; Nitroglycerin; Norepinephrine; Rabbits; Triglycerides; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Vasodilation; Vasodilator Agents

We report a patient presenting rapid deterioration of renal function due to primary cholesterol atheroembolism. The patient was 75-year-old hypertensive male and was admitted to a hospital because of rt. hemiplegia which developed 2 weeks earlier. On admission, his blood pressure was 200/100 mmHg and serum creatinine level was 2.9 mg/dl with urinalysis 1+ both for protein and hematuria. 2 weeks later, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor, delapril 15 mg/day) was given to control high blood pressure. Immediately after this medication, his renal failure rapidly progressed with a fall in blood pressure (110/60 mmHg) and oliguria (100 ml/day). Although he was transferred to our hospital and was treated with hemodialysis, he died of an attack of acute myocardial infarction in a week. At post-mortem examination, microscopic findings of the kidney disclosed numerous occlusions of medium-sized artery by cholesterol emboli. These emboli were also observed in other organs, but not so prominent as in the kidney. The coronary arteries exhibited severe sclerosis. In this presented case, acute deterioration of renal function was caused by ACE-inhibitor, although which was administered in a volume depleted condition. Therefore, further study would be necessary whether or not ACE-inhibitors predispose the patients with this disease to acute renal failure.

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Arteriosclerosis; Cholesterol; Embolism; Humans; Hypertension; Indans; Male