The progression of
IgA-NP is influenced unfavourably by development and existence of
hypertension. The treatment of
hypertension (HTN) has an important role in these patients. Both short- and long-acting formulations of
angiotensin convertase enzim inhibitors (ACEi) and
calcium channel blockers (CCB) lower blood-pressure, however long-acting preparations may provide better control and may have more renoprotective effect. Verifying this hypothesis, 22
IgA-NP patients were followed for 7.25 +/- 2.36 years. The patients were on short-acting ACEi (
captopril, n = 9) or
dihydropyridine type CCB (nifedipin, n = 2) or both (
captopril +
nifedipine n = 11), after at least 3 years the medication was changed to long-acting ACEI (
enalapril, n = 4;
cilazapril, n = 1), or non
dihydropyridine type CCB (
diltiazem hydrochlorid, n = 1) or both (n = 16). Just before changing the medication these patients underwent 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and at the same time the level of
proteinuria and the
creatine clearance were measured. Values of serum-
creatinine were measured in every 3-4 months within a 3 years period before and after the exchange of
antihypertensive drugs. The regression of 1/
creatinine was a = -5.28.10(-5) +/- 1.16.10(-4) before and a = 1.03.10(-4) +/- 2.05.10(-4) after the change of medication. Using paired t-test there was a significant difference between the regressions of 1/
creatine (p < 0.005). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) (128 +/- 81 Hgmm vs. 126.09 +/- 11.67 Hgmm) was not different, however, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (84.15 +/- 7.94 Hgmm vs. 79.78 +/- 7.17 Hgmm), diastolic percent time elevation index (HTI) (43.58 +/- 23.57% vs. 25.61 +/- 20.1%) and 24-hour diastolic hyperbaric impact (114.71 +/- 81.9 vs. 51.51 +/- 51.4, p < 0.05) was lower with long-acting
antihypertensive agents, as was the
proteinuria (1.18 +/- 0.94 g/die vs. 0.69 +/- 1.08 g/die, p < 0.05). Diurnal variation and systolic percent time elevation index were not different. We conclude that long-acting ACEi and non
dihydropyridine type CCB formulations result in better outcomes in
IgA nephropathy patients compared to short-acting drugs, probably because of better and smoother blood pressure control, lowering of
proteinuria and better compliance of the patients.