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Gerjan Navis

Publications and source records attributed to Gerjan Navis.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Do severe systemic sequelae of proteinuria modulate the antiproteinuric response to chronic ACE inhibition?

BACKGROUND: ACE inhibition exerts an antiproteinuric and renoprotective effect. However, residual proteinuria is often present. As residual proteinuria is associated with a poor renal outcome, identification of its determinants is important. We found previously that the systemic sequelae of proteinuria enhance renal damage in untreated nephrotic rats. The impact of systemic nephrosis on renal therapy response, however, is unclear. In the present study we therefore investigated whether the severity of systemic nephrosis, estimated from plasma cholesterol, predicts residual proteinuria during ACE inhibition. METHODS: Sixty male Wistar rats with established adriamycin nephrosis were studied. Six weeks after the induction of nephrosis, rats were stratified for proteinuria and treated for 2 weeks with lisinopril (75 mg/l) or vehicle. RESULTS: At the start of treatment, median proteinuria was 744 mg/day (95% confidence interval (CI) 609-860) and plasma cholesterol was 10.4 mmol/l (95% CI 8.0-12.6), reflecting the state of systemic nephrosis. Lisinopril, but not vehicle, reduced blood pressure and proteinuria (-62%; range -70 to -48; P<0.001). Residual proteinuria was 275 mg/day, with a wide range (47-1119 mg/day). Pre-treatment proteinuria and pre-treatment cholesterol correlated positively with residual proteinuria. By multivariate analysis (r(2) of model =0.92), both pre-treatment cholesterol and pre-treatment proteinuria were independent predictors of residual proteinuria. The quantitative impact of this multivariate analysis is illustrated by the difference in residual proteinuria between rats with a cholesterol:proteinuria ratio less than, compared with greater than, the median (residual proteinuria 298 mg/day (CI 129-496) vs 439 mg/day (CI 158-670), respectively). Blood pressure response was not predicted by the tested predictor variables. CONCLUSIONS: In this model of proteinuria-induced renal damage, not only proteinuria as such, but also the concomitant nephrotic alterations predict residual proteinuria. Further studies, applying specific interventions, are needed to determine which components of the systemic derangements could play a causal role in the modulation of therapy response.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Renoprotection: a matter of blood pressure reduction or agent-characteristics?

Data from recent clinical trials show that lowering of BP reduces the rate of renal function loss in chronic renal disease. There is evidence supporting the assertion that BP lowering obtained by intervention in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) has an additive renoprotective effect in both diabetic and nondiabetic renal diseases. However, to dissociate BP-dependent and non-BP-dependent action of RAAS blockade, the relevant trials are in many cases flawed by design, resulting in BP differences between the comparative antihypertensive strategies. This review discusses whether the relevant literature allows for the conclusion that RAAS intervention has renoprotective effects in addition to its effects on BP. In particular, the main evidence for a specific renoprotective action of RAAS blockade is provided by its consistent antiproteinuric action, which cannot completely be attributed to the reduction in BP. Indeed, other strategies that lower proteinuria without having an antihypertensive effect, such as lowering dietary protein intake or the use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, appear to have a renoprotective effect as well. Interestingly, a consistent finding across different intervention studies is that the more proteinuria is reduced the better the kidney appears to be protected. Therefore, it is concluded that agent-characteristics of RAAS intervention (i.e., antiproteinuric properties) independently influence renal function loss in addition to its BP-lowering effect. Future studies should further explore the renoprotective benefit of non-antihypertensive intervention measures, alone and in combination with antihypertensive strategies.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

Endothelial dilatory function predicts individual susceptibility to renal damage in the 5/6 nephrectomized rat.

In experimental animal models of renal disease the degree of renal damage varies between individuals. This could be caused by variation in the noxious event or by differences in individual susceptibility. Intact endothelial function is assumed to provide a defense mechanism against progressive renal damage. This study hypothesized that interindividual differences in renal endothelial function might be involved in individual susceptibility to renal damage, and it investigated whether endothelial function of small renal arteries before induction of 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 Nx) in rats was related to development of renal damage after 5/6 Nx. Wistar rats underwent 5/6 Nx, and small renal arteries of the removed right kidney were investigated for endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh, 10(-8) to 10(-4) mol/L). The contribution of underlying endothelial dilative mediators, NO, prostaglandins (PG), and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), was assessed using the inhibitors, L-NMMA, indomethacin, and charybdotoxin+apamin, respectively. After 5/6 Nx, proteinuria developed in each rat ranging from 22 to 278 (84 +/- 14) mg/24 h at week 5 (n = 23). Interestingly, a significant inverse correlation between individual ACh-relaxation (expressed as area under curve in arbitrary units) and proteinuria 5 wk after 5/6 Nx was found (r = -0.54; P = 0.008; n = 23). An inverse correlation was also found between individual NO contribution as well as PG contribution and proteinuria 5 wk after 5/6 Nx (r = -0.86, P = 0.001, n = 11; and r = -0.74, P = 0.01, n = 11, respectively). In addition, individual ACh-relaxation was positively correlated with GFR measured 6 wk after 5/6 Nx (r = 0.58; P = 0.016; n = 17). This study demonstrates for the first time that individual renal endothelial dilatory function of the healthy rat predicts susceptibility to renal damage after 5/6 Nx, which seems to depend on individual endothelial NO and PG activity.

Animals↗

Off-pump coronary revascularization attenuates transient renal damage compared with on-pump coronary revascularization.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) represents a specific risk factor for renal damage during coronary revascularization. The purpose of this study was to compare the perioperative renal damage in patients undergoing on-pump and off-pump coronary surgery. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: The progress and extent of renal damage was prospectively studied in two groups of patients undergoing cardiac surgery without concomitant morbidity, undergoing elective coronary revascularization with (n = 12) and without (n = 10) CPB. Markers of glomerular function (creatinine clearance) and damage (microalbuminuria), and markers of tubular function (fractional excretion of sodium [FENa] and free water clearance) and damage (N-acetyl-beta-D glucosaminidase [NAG]) were evaluated. Measuring plasma concentrations of free hemoglobin assessed hemolysis. Plasma and urinary specimens were obtained at the following points: (1) baseline; (2) heparinization; (3) the end of CPB or completing graft for off-pump surgery; (4) skin closure; (5) the sixth hour in the ICU; and (6) the second postoperative day. Free water and creatinine clearances, FENa, and the urinary excretion of microalbumin and NAG were calculated for the corresponding time intervals. SETTING: University hospital. RESULTS: We found that off-pump coronary revascularization induced significantly less changes in microalbuminuria, FENa, free water clearance, NAG, and free hemoglobin as compared with operations with CPB. Markers returned to baseline within 2 days after the operation, and there was no clinical or laboratory evidence of overt renal dysfunction in both groups. CONCLUSION: Off-pump coronary surgery attenuates transient renal injury compared with traditional on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Aged↗

Enhanced responses of blood pressure, renal function, and aldosterone to angiotensin I in the DD genotype are blunted by low sodium intake.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity is increased in the DD genotype, but the functional significance for renal function is unknown. Blunted responses of BP and proteinuria to ACE inhibition among DD renal patients during periods of high sodium intake were reported. It was therefore hypothesized that sodium status affects the phenotype in the ACE I/D polymorphism. The effects of angiotensin I (AngI) and AngII among 27 healthy subjects, with both low (50 mmol sodium/d) and liberal (200 mmol sodium/d) sodium intakes, were studied. Baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP) values, renal hemodynamic parameters, and renin-angiotensin system parameters were similar for all genotypes with either sodium intake level. With liberal sodium intake, the increases in MAP, renal vascular resistance, and aldosterone levels during AngI infusion (8 ng/kg per min) were significantly higher for the DD genotype, compared with the ID and II genotypes (all parameters presented as percent changes +/- 95% confidence intervals), with mean MAP increases of 22 +/- 2% (DD genotype), 13 +/- 5% (ID genotype), and 12 +/- 6% (II genotype) (P < 0.05), mean increases in renal vascular resistance of 100.1 +/- 19.7% (DD genotype), 73.0 +/- 16.3% (ID genotype), and 63.2 +/- 16.9% (II genotype) (P < 0.05), and increases in aldosterone levels of 650 +/- 189% (DD genotype), 343 +/- 71% (ID genotype), and 254 +/- 99% (II genotype) (P < 0.05). Also, the decrease in GFR was more pronounced for the DD genotype, with mean decreases of 17.9 +/- 4.7% (DD genotype), 8.8 +/- 3.4% (ID genotype), and 6.4 +/- 5.9% (II genotype) (P < 0.05). The effective renal plasma flow, plasma AngII concentration, and plasma renin activity values were similar for the genotypes. In contrast, with low sodium intake, the responses to AngI were similar for all genotypes. The responses to AngII were also similar for all genotypes, with either sodium intake level. In conclusion, the responses of MAP, renal hemodynamic parameters, and aldosterone concentrations to AngI are enhanced for the DD genotype with liberal but not low sodium intake. These results support the presence of gene-environment interactions between ACE genotypes and dietary sodium intake.

Adult↗

Between-patient differences in the renal response to renin-angiotensin system intervention: clue to optimising renoprotective therapy?

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) or angiotensin II (Ang II), AT(1)-receptor blockers (ARB) is the cornerstone of renoprotective therapy. Still, the number of patients with end-stage renal disease is increasing worldwide, prompting the search for improved renoprotective strategies. In spite of proven efficacy at group level, the long-term renoprotective effect of RAAS blockade displays a marked between-patient heterogeneity, which is closely linked to between-patient differences in the intermediate parameters of blood pressure, proteinuria and renal haemodynamics. Of note, the between-patient differences by far exceed the between-regimen differences, and thus may provide a novel target for exploration and intervention. The responsiveness to RAAS blockade appears to be an individual characteristic as demonstrated by studies applying a rotation-schedule design. The type and severity of renal disease, obesity, insulin-resistance, glycaemic control, and genetic factors may all be involved in individual differences in responsiveness, as well as dietary factors, such as dietary sodium and protein intake. Several strategies, such as dietary sodium restriction and diuretic therapy, dose-titration for proteinuria, and dual RAAS blockade with ACE-I and ARB, can improve the response to therapy at a group level. However, when analysed for their effect in individuals, it appears that these measures do not allow poor responders to catch up with the good responders, i.e. in spite of their efficacy at group level, the available measures are usually not sufficient to overcome individual resistance to RAAS blockade. We conclude that between-patient differences in responsiveness to renoprotective intervention should get specific attention as a target for intervention. Unravelling of the underlying mechanisms may allow development of specific intervention. Based on the currently available data, we propose that response-based treatment schedules, with a multidrug approach titrated and adapted at individual responses rather than fixed treatment schedules, may provide a fruitful strategy for more effective renoprotection.

Chronic Disease↗

Renin inhibition improves pressure natriuresis in essential hypertension.

Pressure natriuresis (PN), i.e., a rise in renal sodium excretion in response to a higher BP, is involved in long-term BP regulation. PN is blunted in essential hypertension, but the mechanism is unknown. This study assessed the role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in PN in eight essential hypertensive men from the individual correlations between spontaneous fluctuations in BP and time corresponding changes in sodium excretion (collected at 2- and 4-h intervals for 48 h), during strict sodium balance, without treatment, and during renin inhibition (remikiren, 600 mg oral compound). Without treatment, daily values for mean arterial pressure were 109.5 +/- 1.9 and 107 +/- 1.9 mmHg, for urinary sodium excretion were 37.2 +/- 2.8 and 42.0 +/- 2.8 mmol/24 h, and for plasma renin activity were 2.34 +/- 0.48 and 2.23 +/- 0.44 nmol/L per h, respectively, for two consecutive days. During remikiren treatment, mean arterial pressure was 101.9 +/- 1.7 and 100.8 +/- 1. 7 mmHg (P: < 0.05, versus baseline). Urinary sodium excretion was 39. 3 +/- 3.7 and 45.2 +/- 5.3 mmol/24 h (not significant versus baseline), and plasma renin activity was 0.79 +/- 0.11 and 0.82 +/- 0.13 nmol/L per h (P: < 0.05 versus baseline). During remikiren treatment, BP correlated positively with sodium excretion in all patients but in only three of eight patients without treatment. The slope of the regression equation was steeper during remikiren treatment in seven of eight patients. Thus, the relationship between BP and natriuresis was more readily apparent during RAAS blockade, suggesting that RAAS activity blunts PN in hypertensive patients. Improved PN may contribute to the hypotensive effect of RAAS blockade and to maintenance of sodium balance at a lower BP level without volume expansion.

Aldosterone↗

Urinary albumin excretion is associated with renal functional abnormalities in a nondiabetic population.

Microalbuminuria (MA) is an important early sign of diabetic nephropathy. Hyperfiltration and impaired filtration in relation to albuminuria has been well investigated in diabetic subjects. This study tested the hypothesis that an increased urinary albumin excretion (UAE) is associated with renal functional abnormalities also in nondiabetic subjects. The relation between UAE and creatinine clearances (Ccr) in 7728 nondiabetic subjects was studied. Subjects were divided in four groups according to UAE (mg/24 h): 0 to 15 (control), 15 to 30 (high-normal albuminuria [HNA]), 30 to 300 (MA), >300 (macroalbuminuria). An elevated filtration and a diminished filtration were defined as a Ccr exceeding or below 2x the SD of the control group corrected for age and gender. Ccr followed a parabolic trend, with a higher Ccr in the HNA as compared with control and a lower Ccr in the MA and macroalbuminuria group as compared with HNA. With each increasing UAE level, male sex, age, body mass index, minimal waist circumference, systolic and diastolic BP, plasma glucose, and a positive family history for diabetes all followed a significant linear increasing trend (P < 0.001). After adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, plasma glucose, a positive family history for diabetes, systolic and diastolic BP, antihypertensive medication, and smoking in a multivariate analysis, HNA and MA were independently associated with an elevated filtration (RR 1.8 [95% confidence interval, 1.30 to 2.51] and 1.7 [1.17 to 2. 45]). Macroalbuminuria was independently associated with a diminished filtration (4.3 [range, 1.97 to 9.36]). In conclusion, an elevated UAE might be an important and early sign for progressive renal function loss in a nondiabetic population.

Adult↗

Chronic angiotensin II infusion but not bradykinin blockade abolishes the antiproteinuric response to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in established adriamycin nephrosis.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition reduces proteinuria in established adriamycin nephrosis. To investigate whether the reduction in proteinuria is due to decreased generation of angiotensin II (AngII) or to decreased degradation of bradykinin, four series of experiments in established adriamycin nephrosis were performed. In the first series, 2 mg/kg lisinopril reduced BP from 117 +/- 4 to 67 +/- 2 mmHg and proteinuria from 335 +/- 66 to 57 +/- 10 mg/24 h after 2 wk of treatment. Subsequent continuous intraperitoneal infusion of AngII (250 ng/kg per min) for 2 wk partially restored proteinuria to 180 +/- 42 mg/24 h, whereas BP increased to 97 +/- 3 mmHg. Subsequent withdrawal of AngII restored the antiproteinuric effects of lisinopril, whereas subsequent withdrawal of lisinopril restored proteinuria to pretreatment values. In the second series, AT1 receptor blockade induced a fall in BP and proteinuria similar to that by lisinopril. In the third series, lisinopril reduced BP from 121 +/- 5 to 68 +/- 2 mmHg and proteinuria from 355 +/- 90 to 101 +/- 10 mg/24 h. Subsequent intraperitoneal infusion of bradykinin antagonist (HOE 140; 1 mg/kg per 24 h) for 2 wk did not affect BP (72 +/- 2 mmHg) or proteinuria (92 +/- 15 mg/24 h). In the fourth series, bradykinin (3 mg/kg per 24 h) was infused for 2 wk to mimic decreased bradykinin breakdown. This did not affect proteinuria, but induced a fall in BP from 114 +/- 3 to 93 +/- 4 mmHg. The BP-lowering effect of exogenous bradykinin was completely reversed by 1 wk infusion of HOE 140 (93 +/- 4 to 113 +/- 4 mmHg), while proteinuria remained unchanged. In conclusion, the antiproteinuric effect of ACE inhibition appears to be independent of bradykinin in this model, supporting a main role for reduction of AngII in the antiproteinuric action of ACE inhibition.

Angiotensin II↗