[Prevention of hypertensive renal damage by prepubertal treatment with ARB]

Epidemiological data have suggested that the incidence of hypertensive nephrosclerosis is increasing despite the development of newer drug treatments. Recently, we studied the effects of temporary treatment of prepubescent rats with angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) on the development of hypertensive nephrosclerosis in later life. Studies were performed using stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRSP) and Dahl salt-sensitive rats(Dahl-S). In the case of SHRSP, treatment with ARB or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor(ACEI) from weaning to puberty(3 to 10 weeks) resulted in a continued reduction of blood pressure, and attenuation of proteinuria and renal histological changes at 30 weeks. In the case of Dahl-S, the prepubertal treatment with ARB caused a partial, but statistically significant reduction in proteinuria and renal damage. These results may be relevant for understanding the mechanisms of development of hypertension and hypertensive renal damage in these animal models.