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Query: UMLS:C0011881 (diabetic nephropathy)
 10,836 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The incidence of diabetes and its complications is increasing to staggering proportions. Presently the WHO estimates an overall prevalence of 130 million, but by 2025 there will be 300 million individuals with diabetes mellitus. The incidence of diabetic neuropathy approaches 50% in most diabetic populations; there is no treatment, and its consequences in the form of foot ulceration and amputation are financially punishing for health care providers. Attempts to develop treatments have faltered for want of an understanding of the aetiology of diabetic neuropathy. As a consequence, 1999 saw the demise of two further compounds: recombinant growth factor by Roche-Genentech and the aldose reductase inhibitor zopolrestat, by Pfizer, both had reached phase III clinical trials. They joined an impressive list of at least 30 other compounds which have reached phase III clinical trials and failed to establish efficacy. The need to establish a viable treatment for human diabetic neuropathy is absolutely paramount. To provide a rational answer as to whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors can prevent human diabetic neuropathy, two major issues need addressing: 1) Does vascular dysfunction cause human diabetic neuropathy? 2) Can ACE inhibitors ameliorate diabetic vascular dysfunction and hence neuropathy? Epidemiological studies support a strong association between neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy. Microangiopathy is deemed as the root cause of both nephropathy, and retinopathy and mounting evidence provides support for a vascular basis of diabetic neuropathy. ACE inhibitors appear to correct many of the abnormalities associated with the vascular dysfunction found in diabetes. Thus effective ACE inhibition impacts very positively on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ischaemic heart disease, particularly in diabetic patients. ACE inhibition also prevents the development and progression of incipient and established diabetic nephropathy and delays progression of background retinopathy. Quinapril improves measures of diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Our recent study has demonstrated a significant improvement in peripheral neuropathy following 12 months of treatment with the ACE inhibitor trandolapril.
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PMID:Can diabetic neuropathy be prevented by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors? 1071 71

The aim of this study was designed to investigate the possible beneficial effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, Quinapril (Q) and, the angiotensin (ang) II T(1) (AT1) receptor blocker, irbesartan (Irb), in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. The rats were randomly allotted into one of five experimental groups: A (control), B (diabetic untreated), C (diabetic treated with Q), D (diabetic treated with Irb), and E (diabetic treated with Q&Irb), each group containing 10 animals. Groups B-E received STZ. Diabetes was induced in four groups by a single intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of STZ (50 mg/kg, freshly dissolved in 5 mmol/L citrate buffer, pH 4.5). Two days after STZ treatment, development of diabetes in four experimental groups was confirmed by measuring blood glucose levels in a tail vein blood samples. Rats with blood glucose levels of 250 mg/dL or higher were considered to be diabetic. The rats in Q-, Irb-, and Q&Irb-treated groups were given Q (in a dose of 3 mg/kg body weight), Irb (5 mg/kg body weight), and Q&Irb (in a dose of 1.5 mg/kg + 2.5 mg/kg body weight) once a day orally by using intra-gastric intubation for 12 weeks starting two days after STZ injection. Treatment of Q and especially Irb reduced the glomerular size and thickening of capsular, glomerular, and tubular basement membranes; and increased amounts of mesangial matrix and tubular dilatation and renal function as compared with diabetics untreated. Notably, the better effects were obtained when Q and Irb given together. We conclude that Q, Irb, and especially Q+Irb therapy causes renal morphologic and functional improvement after STZ-induced diabetes in rats. We believe that further preclinical research into the utility of Q and Irb treatment, alone or its combination, may indicate its usefulness as a potential treatment in diabetic nephropathy (DNp).
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PMID:Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade on streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy. 1901 56