The role of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers in the response to epoetin

IC Macdougall - Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 1999 - academic.oup.com
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 1999academic.oup.com
Introduction the ACE inhibitors has been put to good use in patients with transplant
polycythaemia, a condition which may Both angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
be partly caused by inappropriately high levels of and angiotensin II receptor blockers are
widely used circulating erythropoietin [21–23]. in renal failure patients in the treatment of
hyperten- Nevertheless, the small reductions in erythropoietin sion [1], left ventricular
dysfunction [2], and diabetic levels can be overcome easily by the administration of …
Introduction the ACE inhibitors has been put to good use in patients with transplant polycythaemia, a condition which may Both angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors be partly caused by inappropriately high levels of and angiotensin II receptor blockers are widely used circulating erythropoietin [21–23]. in renal failure patients in the treatment of hyperten- Nevertheless, the small reductions in erythropoietin sion [1], left ventricular dysfunction [2], and diabetic levels can be overcome easily by the administration of exogenous erythropoietin. Yet, haemoglobin levels can nephropathy [3]. Their efficacy in these conditions is fall quite significantly in patients stable on epoetin in well established, and generally both classes of drugs whom an ACE inhibitor is introduced [8, 10], sugare well tolerated, with a low incidence of side effects gesting that other mechanisms must be operating.
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