[Arterial hypertension and diabetic nephropathy]

A high incidence of renal lesions is observed in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. In the early stages of the disease glomerular capillary hemodynamics is altered with, in particular, glomerular hyperfiltration related to several factors: enhanced glomerular capillary flow rate, capillary hypertension and increased filtration area. These hemodynamic changes could affect development of the glomerular microangiopathy: the final outcome of this is the glomerulosclerosis associated with a progressively worsening and ineluctable chronic renal insufficiency. Hypertension, frequent in the early stages, is practically constant when the neuropathy stage has been reached; it is well established that hypertension accelerates the development of glomerular lesions and the progression of the renal impairment. Experimental and clinical studies have clearly demonstrated that antihypertensive treatment slows down the degradation of renal function. All antihypertensive drugs appear to be effective, but converting enzyme inhibitors, by their effects on renal hemodynamics, could play a particular role in the prophylactic treatment of diabetic nephropathy. Determination of urinary excretion of albumin (microalbuminuria), the global evidence of the onset of a nephropathy is useful for the follow up of the renal disease, allows follow up of the renal lesion and evaluation of the efficacy of treatment.