Decrease of exercise-induced microalbuminuria in patients with type I diabetes by means of an angiotensin-converting...

Taking into account both the importance of microalbuminuria (MA) as a predictive parameter of clinical nephropathy in diabetic patients and the efficiency of exertion to show and/or to increase MA in both diabetic patients and normal individuals, we studied 37 type I diabetic patients divided into two groups: group A, with no MA at rest (n = 19), and group B, with MA at rest (n = 18). Group C comprised 10 healthy volunteers as controls. Changes of basal MA during exercise and postexercise were studied in all three groups. Normotensive patients with no metabolic disorders, normal renal function, and no proteinuria underwent an ergometric test up to 600 kg. This test was repeated after the administration of 20 mg enalapril in a single daily dose for 60 days. Body weight, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, creatinine, and creatinine clearance were determined and showed no significant variations either between groups or with treatment. Microalbuminuria was studied in the three groups with and without administration of enalapril throughout the 2 months of the study. Determinations were performed under conditions of rest, exercise, and postexercise. Mean baseline MA values +/- SEM were as follows: at rest, 5.22 +/- 0.49, 58.36 +/- 13.24, and 4.73 +/- 0.45 micrograms/min for groups A, B, and C, respectively; with exercise, 15.19 +/- 4.43, 74.70 +/- 14.89, and 16.76 +/- 4.62 micrograms/min for groups A, B, and C, respectively; and postexercise, 32.04 +/- 6.64, 253.15 +/- 63.88, and 9.23 +/- 3.25 micrograms/min, respectively. The geometric means of the baseline to posttreatment MA ratio were as follows: at rest, 0.95, 1.59 (P < 0.01), and 1.03 for groups A, B, and C, respectively; with exercise, 1.53 (P < 0.01), 1.91 (P < 0.01), and 1.69 for groups A, B, and C, respectively; and postexercise, 2.94 (P < 0.01), 3.24 (P < 0.01), and 1.03 for groups A, B, and C, respectively. In conclusion, in the early diagnostic suspicion of diabetic nephropathy, the screening of postexercise MA during an ergometric test could be of help. Treatment with enalapril decreased MA in diabetic groups A (no MA at rest) and B (MA at rest) during exercise and postexercise, and also decreased MA in group B while at rest.