Effects of Losartan on Renal Function in Patients with Essential Hypertension

We examined the renal hemodynamic modifications induced by a selective angiotensin II (AII) AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, in 10 patients with essential hypertension. In this single-blind study, renal hemodynamic parameters were determined twice (patients were their own controls) first after a 15-day single-blind placebo run-in period and again after a 1-month losartan period. The dosage of losartan was 50 mg/day. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR, inulin clearance), renal plasma flow [RPF; para-aminohippurate (PAH) clearance], microalbuminuria, sodium excretion, proximal sodium tubular reabsorption (lithium clearance), and acid uric metabolism were measured. After 1-month losartan treatment, systolic and diastolic BP (SBP, DBP) decreased significantly throughout the 210-min recording whereas heart rate (HR) was unchanged. GFR (100 +/- 19 vs. 96 +/- 17 ml/min/1.73 m2) and RPF (471 +/- 118 vs. 468 +/- 108 ml/ min/1.73 m2) were not altered by losartan. Rather than occurrence of any modification in filtration fraction (FF), a significant decrease in microalbuminuria was evident (57 +/- 77 vs. 40 +/- 59 mg/24 h, p < 0.05). Urinary sodium excretion was not modified, but an almost significant (p = 0.07) decrease in proximal sodium reabsorption was observed (72.9 +/- 7.7 vs. 68.1 +/- 6.4% of filtered sodium). The increase in renal uric clearance accounted for the significant decrease in serum uric acid (195 +/- 49 vs. 183 +/- 43 microM; p < 0.05). After 1-month losartan treatment, renal function was well preserved; the decrease in uric acid may be of clinical interest when adjuvent diuretic therapy is required.